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THE 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CRUSADES 


BY 


JOSEPH    FRAIS^COIS    MICHAUD 


TRANSLATED     FROM    THE    FREN  C.H 

BY    W.    ROBSON 

IN    THKEE    VOLUMES 

VOL.    I 


REDFIELD 

34    BEEKMAN    STREET,    NEW    YORK 
Fc-Jrtb  Edition.]  18  5  5. 


Annex 

Q 


PREFACE. 


"When  we  consider  the  European  reputation  this  work 
has  so  long  enjoyed,  we  find  it  more  difficult  to  discover  the 
cause  of  its  having  been  hitherto  withheld  from  the  vast 
body  of  English  readers,  than  we  do  to  ofier  reasons  for  the 
present  publication.  Mutual  difi'usion  of  knowledge  among 
nations  must  keep  pace  with  the  facilities  and  extension  of 
intercourse  so  suddenly  and  wonderfully  created  by  science ; 
and  we  confidently  look  to  the  period  when  no  such  work  as 
this  can  be  confined  to  the  mere  scholars  of  countries  foreign 
to  that  in  which  it  was  written.  It  is  in  vain  to  say  that 
Erench  is  so  generally  understood  in  England  as  to  render 
translations  from  that  language  unnecessary  ;  a  long  experi- 
ence has  taught  us  that  this  is  not  true.  AYe  have  no  faith 
in  a  universal  acquaintance  with  a  difiicult  language,  all  the 
niceties  of  which  must  be  understood  before  it  can  be  appre- 
ciated or  enjoj^ed.  AVith  a  pretty  extensive  well-educated 
circle  of  friends,  we  do  not  know,  and  never  did  know,  six 
English  persons,  male  or  female,  who  could  translate  La 
Eontaine's  Eables  with  ease  and  spirit.  Although  Erench 
is  taught  at  every  respectable  middle-class  scliool,  it  is 
comparatively  neglected  by  some  of  the  highest ;  it  is  soon 
forgotten  by  the  pupils  of  the  former,  and  cultivated  prin- 


IV  PKEFACE. 

cipally  orally  by  those  of  the  latter ;  and  we  may  safely  assert 
that  out  of  the  millions  who  are  now  readers,  very  few 
would  have  the  courage  to  attack  so  large  a  work  as  this  in 
the  original  language,  which  they  know  they  cannot  master 
without  dictionary  and  grammar.  AYhere  there  is  one  who 
would  take  it  up  with  the  double  purpose  of  practising 
Prench  and  studying  history,  there  are  hundreds  who,  as  a 
relaxation  from  political,  commercial,  or  industrial  pursuits, 
vrould  be  satisfied  with  being  amusingly  instructed  by  read- 
ing it  at  ease  and  at  leisure  in  their  own  language.  As  ideas 
are  the  principal  objects  of  books,  all  good  works  should  be 
translated. 

And  we  unhesitatingly  claim  a  place  among  these  for 
that  which  we  are  about  to  lay  before  the  public.  It  were 
superfluous  to  speak  of  the  advantages  derived  from  the 
science  to  which  it  belongs ;  and  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  the  Crusades  form  one  of  the  most  important  sections 
of  human  history ;  not  only  instructive,  but  extraordinary ; 
supplying  abimdance  of  edifying  matter  to  the  statesman, 
the  philosopher,  the  poet,  the  novelist,  and  the  citizen.  If 
it  be  true  that  no  page  of  history  should  be  considered  as  a 
blank  to  the  statesman,  which  leaf  of  her  vast  volume  can 
he  turn  with  much  more  promise  of  instruction  ?  He  will 
behold  men,  of  powerful  and  ambitious  minds,  seizing  upon 
the  worst  passions  of  various  ages, — superstition,  cupidity, 
and  cruelty, — and  wielding  the  energies  of  incredible  multi- 
tudes, in  endeavours  to  work  out  their  own  ends  and 
views.  Many  an  invaluable  lesson  may  he  gather  from  the 
want  of  foresight,  prudence,  knowledge,  and  unanimity  dis- 
played in  these  astonishing  enterprises  ;  wliilst  the  causes  of 
numerous  effects  now  in  operation  may  be  plainly  traced  to 
these  eventftd  periods. 

But  to  none  will  this  great  field  present  so  rich  a  harvest 
as  to  the  philosopher.     He  will  see  all  the  feelings  and 


PEEFACE. 


passions  of  man  in  undisguised,  full  play,  from  the  noblest 
aspirations  of  true  religion  and  pure  honour,  to  the  most 
degraded  abasements  of  superstition,  hypocrisy,  and  sen- 
suality. He  will  contemplate  some  exalted  characters,  like 
that  of  Tancred,  the  mirror  of  knighthood,  able  equally  to 
support  success  and  disasters — never  forgetful  of  mercy  in 
the  hour  of  victory,  or  abandoned  by  Christian  resignation 
in  the  deepest  misery ;  sincere  in  religion,  unblemished  in 
honour,  and,  though  valiant  as  their  own  good  swords,  yet 
overflowing  with  kindliest  charities.  But  of  these  he  will 
find  but  few ;  for,  generally,  he  will  easily  trace  the  wicked- 
ness of  the  ends  desired  in  the  means  employed  to  obtain 
them.  And  yet  he  will  close  the  book  with  the  pious  and 
cheering  reflection,  that  however  horrible  in  plan  and  exe- 
cution the  Crusades  may  appear  to  us,  there  is  no  doubt 
that,  as  regards  the  whole  of  the  Creator's  great  scheme, 
they  considerably  advanced  the  happiness  of  mankind.  The 
European  world  never  stood  in  greater  need  of  having  its 
scum  removed  than  at  the  periods  of  the  Crusades,  particu- 
larly the  first ;  and  if,  as  vfQ  shudder  at  the  catastrophe  of 
Lisbon,  we  hope  that  the  added  welfare  of  the  globe  was  at 
least  commensurate  with  the  calamity,  so,  when  we  remember 
that  six  millions  of  human  beings  lost  their  lives  by  sword 
fire,  disease,  famine,  and  shipwreck  in  these  disastrous  wars, 
.  we  trust  and  believe  that  the  advantages  we  derive  from 
them  may  be  equal  to  the  sacrifice. 

For  the  poet  and  the  novelist  the  Crusades  are  rich 
sources  of  wealth ;  for  imagination  can  scarcely  soar  above 
the  characters  and  scenes,  nor  can  fiction  exceed  the  won- 
ders of  the  events. 

But  to  no  class  will  the  great  lesson  of  the  Crusades  be 
more  profitable  than  to  the  citizens  of  our  own  country  and 
times.  Gibbon  says :  "  Some  deep  reasoners  have  suspe6ted 
that  the  whole  enterprise,  from  the  synod  of  Placentia,  was 


n  PEEFACE. 

contriyed  and  executed  by  the  policy  of  Eome.  The  suspi- 
cion is  not  founded  either  in  nature  or  in  facts.  The  suc- 
cessors of  St.  Peter  appear  to  haye  followed,  rather  than 
guided,  the  impulse  of  manners  and  prejudices  ;  -w-ithout 
much  foresight  of  the  seasons,  or  cultiyation  of  tlie  soil,  they 
gathered  the  ripe  and  spontaneous  fruits,  without  much  toU. 
or  danger." 
"  Now,  with  all  due  respect  for  the  great  historian,  we 
cannot  agree  with  this  ;  and  we  feel  assured  that  most 
of  the  readers  of  this  history  will  come  to  the  conclu- 
sion  that  the  popes  and  other  ambitious,  wily,  and  greedy 
churchmen  were  the  prime  movers  and  general  supporters 
of  the  Crusades  ;  and  that  entirely  for  the  sake  of  keeping 
up,  by  means  of  fanatical,  superstitious  outbreaks,  their 
influence  oyer  men's  minds.  Peter  the  Hermit  might  sug- 
gest the  idea  to  the  pope  ;  but  what  could  the  humble  ceno- 
bite  haye  done  without  the  sanction  of  the  Holy  See  ?  and 
the  eagerness  with  wliich  the  pontiff  laid  hold  of  the  scheme 
proyes  what  great  advantages  he  hoped  to  derive  from  it. 
The  most  ambitious,  the  most  talented,  and  the  most  un- 
scnipulous  popes  were  always  the  greatest  instigators  of  the 
crusades. 

Can  we  assert  that  Innocent  III.  followed  the  spirit 
of  his  age,  when  he  set  such  bloodhoimds  as  Simon  de 
Montfort  on  to  gorge  themselves  ^vith  slaughter  in  the  most 
civilized  Christian  cities  of  Europe,  and  to  devastate  the  most 
smiling  and  luxuriant  plains  of  the  world  ?  The  crusade 
against  the  Albigeois  was  executed  under  the  same  influence 
that  so  earnestly  promoted  and  preached  fresh  expeditions 
to  the  Holy  Land ;  but  the  beautiful  country  of  Langnedoc 
presented  a  richer  harvest,  and  much  less  danger  in  reaping 
it,  than  the  exhausted  and  burning  plains  of  Syria ;  and  the 
work  was,  in  comparison,  not  half  so  thoroughly  performed 
in  the  East  as  in  the  West. 


PREFACE .  VU 

Kotwithstanding  its  glories,  the  fii'st  Crusade  was  so  dis- 
astrous that  if  it  had  not  been  for  such  men  as  St.  Bernard, 
Foulke  of  Neuilly,  and  Innocent  III,,  no  other  crusades 
would  have  ever  taken  place.  The  popes  and  the  fanatics 
they  employed  were  obliged  to  be  constantly  stirring  the  fire 
to  keep  it  burning.  And  what  was  the  nature  of  the  fuel  they 
threw  on  ? — To  the  superstitious  they  promised  Paradise ; 
to  the  ambitious  and  covetous,  dominions  and  wealth ;  ta. 
the  vicious  and  volupt-uous,  indulgences ;  to  the  criminal, 
pardon;  and  to  all,  impunity!  Can  any  one  believe  that 
Bernard,  one  of  the  best  scholars  of  his  age,  the  rival  of 
Abelard,  was  the  dupe  of  his  own  knavery,  or  performed 
it  for  nothing  ?  Power,  with  many  minds,  is  like  money 
with  others ;  they  must  have  it,  however  detestable  the 
means  employed  to  gain  it.  Some  of  the  immediate  dis- 
ciples of  St.  Bernard,  with  the  utmost  simplicity,  express 
their  regret  that  the  crowds  that  surrounded  him  were 
so  dense,  they  could  not  see  him  perform  his  miracles, 
they  only  heard  of  them.  No  one  can  believe  that  this 
shrewd  man  imposed  upon  himself  by  the  tricks  with 
which  he  deluded  the  multitude,  or  practised  his  jugglery 
gratuitously  !  By  his  preaching  he  became  one  of  the 
greatest  men  of  his  time  ;  and  by  his  legerdemain  he  became 
a  saint. 

The  popes  and  their  satellites  availed  themselves  of 
the  worst  parts  of  the  superstitions  of  the  periods  at 
which  they  lived ;  they  mingled  them  with  the  passions  of 
cupidity  and  false  glory,  and  employed  their  victims,  as  the 
Crusaders  may  safely  be  called,  to  their  own  aggrandisement. 
Of  the  advantages,  in  the  shape  of  influence,  the  popes 
gained  by  wars  called  holy,  there  need  be  no  question ;  and 
when  we  find  such  zealous  preachers  as  Foulke  of  Neuilly 
and  Cardinal  de  Cour9on,  more  than  suspected  of  appropri- 
ating to  themselves  the  treasures  offered  to  the  cause  of 


viil  PEEFACE. 

Obrist,  -we  may  justly  suppose  that  the  underlings  partook 
of  solid,  tangible  gold  as  largely  as  their  leaders  did  of 
power  and  glory. 

jVIr.  Macaulay,  in  his  "  Essay  on  Ranke's  History  of  the 
Popes,"  although  he  has  scarcely  touched  on  the  Asiatic 
crusades,  has,  with  his  wonted  elegance,  gone  into  questions 
closely  allied  Avith  these  volumes.  "We  have  sometimes 
thought  that  Mr.  Macaulay  was  like  Burke,  more  splendid 
than  convincing ;  and  we  cannot  help  entertaining  a  hope 
that  a  perusal  of  this  work  will  weaken  the  effects  of  one  of 
his  prominent  positions,  and  diminish  the  faith  in  his  pro- 
phecy of  the  perpetuity  of  the  prosperity  of  the  Eoman 
Catholic  religion .  He  says,  "  It  is  impossible  to  deny  that 
the  policy  of  the  Church  of  Eome  is  the  very  masterpiece  of 
human  wisdom." 

Unless  we  sink  to  the  admission  that  the  cunning  of 
the  serpent  is  the  highest  of  wisdom,  and  join  that  tribe 
of  Indians  that  worship  the  principle  of  evil,  we,  never- 
theless, do  deny  it,  and  that  most  earnestly.  There  is 
nothing  large,  nothing  exalting,  nothing  ennobling  in  the 
policy  of  Eome,  to  entitle  it  to  the  character  of  the  highest 
wisdom.  The  popes  have  been  influenced  by  as  many  various 
passions  as  so  many  other  men ;  and  if  they  employed  every 
art  to  gain  honour  to  the  papal  tin-one,  it  was  only  the  better 
to  obtain  their  own  ends.  Some  were  inflamed  by  ambition, 
some  by  wealth,  many  by  the  hopes  of  enriching  their 
families,  and  many  by  the  worst  of  passions  and  most 
desradins:  of  vices — there  is  nothinoj  like  a  continuous  course 
of  wisdom  in  this.  Mr.  Macaulay  says  in  the  very  next 
paragraph,  "  Among  the  contrivances  which  have  been  de- 
vised for  deceiving  and  oppressing  mankind,  it  occupies  the 
highest  place." 

Is  this  the  character  of  wisdom  ?  "Wisdom  is  an  attri- 
bute of  the  Deity !    it  is  above  geniiis,  above  knowledge ; 


PEEFACE.  ix 

because  it  combines  with  goodness  to  employ  both  these. 
To  term  successful  cunning  wisdom,  and  foretell  its  per- 
petual success,  is  to  cast  virtue  prostrate  at  the  feet 
of  vice,  and  to  destroy  for  ever  every  holy  human 
aspiration.  "It  is  not,  and  it  cannot  come  to  good" — 
Hamlet's  is  a  sounder  creed  than  Mr.  Macaulay's. — If  we 
look  for  the  real  benefits  derived  by  the  human  race  from 
the  Crusades,  we  shall  find  that  not  one  of  them  Avas  con- 
templated by  the  chm'chmen  who  planned  and  promoted 
these  expeditions ;  whilst,  of  the  advantages  they  aimed  at, 
except  some  wealth  to  the  general  church,  most  were  never 
attained,  and  the  rest  quickly  crumbled  into  ruin.  "Wliere 
then  is  the  Avisdom  of  this  boasted  policy  ?  The  miraculous 
regenerations  of  papal  power  were  the  effects  of  circumstances 
rather  than  of  profound  wisdom.  ]Mr.  Macaulay  has  given 
a  highly- coloured  picture  of  the  order  of  the  Jesuits  and 
their  founder,  attributing  too  much,  as  we  think,  to  Loyola 
— wiser  and  cooler  heads  than  his  perfected  the  schemes  of 
the  fanatic. 

We  could,  "  if  it  were  our  hint,"  say  much  more  on 
this  head ;  but  we  must  conclude  by  showing  that  it  was 
this  part  of  Mr.  Macaulay's  essay  that  led  us  into  this 
apparent  digression.  When  our  readers  see  in  the  text  and 
appendix  the  very  interesting  documents  concerning  the 
institution  of  the  Assassins,  under  the  Old  Man  of  the 
Mountain,  we  think  they  must  be  struck,  as  we  were,  with 
the  wonderful  analogy  between  this  sect  and  the  Society  of 
Jesus.  The  same  careful  physical  selection  in  their  tools  ; 
the  same  elaborate,  imaginative  education ;  the  same  abnega- 
tion of  self;  the  same  blind  and  perfect  obedience;  the 
same  unscrupulousness  as  to  means ;  the  same  devotedness 
to  one  aim, — the  power  of  the  Old  Man  or  the  General ; — 
these  really  almost  lead  us  to  believe  they  had  one  common 
source,  and  that  the  Spaniard  was  a  pupil  of  the  Syrian. 

I* 


X  PEEFACE. 

This  will  certainly  not  be  the  least  instnictive  portion  of 
our  work. 

'We  have  several  histories  of  the  Crusades,  in  dispraise  of 
which  we  shall  say  nothing,  only  claiming  for  Michaud's 
the  rank  which  is  generally  accorded  to  it,  of  the  most  com- 
plete. Of  OUT  own  part  of  the  labour,  we  will  only  presume 
to  say  that  we  have  honestly  endeavoured  to  make  the  trans- 
lation faithful,  and  to  convey  to  the  English  reader  as  close 
an  idea  of  the  style  of  the  original  as  the  nature  of  the  two 
languages  will  permit. 

W.  E. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICE. 


"We  are  not  of  those  who  tlimk  that  readers  are  without 
curiosity  as  to  the  position  in  life,  actions,  and  fortunes  of 
the  authors  who  afford  them  instruction  or  pleasure  ;  the 
eagerness  with  which  the  birthplaces  of  men  of  genius  are 
sought  for  and  commemorated ;  the  fondness  with  which 
their  most  trifling  actions  are  dwelt  upon  ;  and  the  endless 
collections  that  are  made  of  their  conversations  and  sayings, 
prove  that  this  cannot  be  the  case. 

In  a  prefatory  memoir,  we  can  scarcely  go  into  so  many 
details  of  the  life  of  Michaud,  as,  perhaps,  the  subject  de- 
serves. Michaud  was  not  a  mere  author,  whose  history 
may  be  read  in  his  works.  He  lived  at  a  momentous 
period,  and  was  no  idle  spectator  of  passing  events ;  a  com- 
plete life  of  Michaud  would,  indeed,  swell  to  a  history  of 
Trance  from  1790  to  1839. 

Joseph  Fran9ois  Michaud,  born  at  Albens,  m  Savoy,  on 
the  19th  of  June,  in  the  year  1767,  was  descended  from  a 
family  that  traced  its  nobility  beyond  the  tenth  century. 
One  "of  his  ancestors,  Hugh  Michaud  de  Corcelles,  was 
deservedly  distinguished  by  the  emperor  Charles  Y.  The 
father  of  Joseph  was  obliged  to  leave  his  country,  in  conse- 
quence of  what  is  termed  by  his  biographer,  a  piece  of  boyish 
rashness,  but  which  we  prefer  relating  to  any  of  the  warlike 
deeds  of  the  abovenamed  Hugh.  AYhilst  on  a  shooting 
party,  he  sought  refreshment  in  a  cottage,  and  found  the 
mistress  of  it  in  the  greatest  distress  ;  for,  at  the  moment  of 


Xl  BIOGEAPHICAL   NOTICE. 

Lis  entrance,  officers  were  bearinor  aM'av  her  liumble  far- 
niture,  for  the  paltry  sum  of  sixty  francs.  He  offered  to 
pay  the  amount  if  they  would  come  with  him  to  his  home ; 
but  they  refused,  and  continued  their  operations  in  his  pre- 
sence. This  irritated  him  to  such  a  degree,  that  he  threat- 
ened to  make  use  of  his  gun ;  and,  at  length,  struck  one  of 
them  so  severe  a  blow  with  the  stock  of  it,  that  the  fellow 
died  immediately.  He  retired  to  a  place  near  Bourg,  in 
Bresse,  where  he  married ;  and  he  afterwards  established 
himself  as  a  notary  and  commissary  at  Terrier,  in  that 
province.  An  early  death  left  his  widow  burdened  with  a 
numerous  family,  of  which  Joseph  was  the  eldest.  Xotwith- 
standing  this  calamity,  he  received  an  excellent  education  at 
the  college  of  Bourg,  and  acquired  great  credit  as  a  rhe- 
torician and  a  composer  of  French  verses.  His  studies  and 
some  juvenile  travels  completed,  it  became  necessary  for  him 
to  fix  upon  a  mode  of  getting  a  living ;  and  the  Ilarro^^"ne33 
of  his  mother's  resources  confining  his  efforts  to  trade,  he 
went  into  the  house  of  a  bookseller  at  Lyon,  attracted,  no 
doubt,  by  the  affinity  between  the  bookseller  and  the  man  of 
letters.  He  remained  here  till  1790,  when  the  passage  of 
the  rich,  influential,  and  intellectual  Countess  Fanny  de 
Beauharnais  through  that  city,  aroused  all  the  provincial 
muses  to  make  their  ofleriugs  to  the  great  lady.  Among 
the  poets,  Michaud  was  so  successful,  that  he  thought  him- 
self warranted  in  following  her  to  Paris,  ^vith  the  view  of 
pursuing  a  literary  career  under  her  auspices.  Immediately 
on  his  arrival,  he  laid  the  contents  of  his  poetical  portfolio 
before  the  public,  and  soon  became  the  associate  of  Cerisier, 
in  the  Gazette  UniverseUe.  and  with  Esmenard,  in  the  Po5- 
tiUon  de  la  Guerre.  His  opinions  and  early  associations  led 
him  towards  the  Eoyalist  party,  to  which  the  accession  of 
his  talents  was  veiy  acceptable.  He  may  be  said  to  have 
been  faithful  to  his  colours,  throu£:h  all  the  disasters  of  the 
ujihappy  cause  he  had  embraced ;  for,  in  spite  of  imprison- 
ment, banishment,  and  repeated  concealments,  we  find  him, 
in  1799,  publishing  two  satirical  pamphlets  against  Buona- 
parte, by  the  orders  of  Louis  XYIII.  One  of  his  escapes 
was  so  well  managed,  and  so  opportunely  effected,  that  we 
will  offer  an  account  of  it  to  our  readers.  He  had  been  sent 
prisoner  to  Paris,  walking  between  two  mounted  gendarmes, 


BIOGllAPlllCAL    ISOTICE.  XIU 

who  were  directed  not  to  spare  him,  aud  if  fatigue  relaxed 
his  speed,  they  were  to  refresh  him  with  the  flat  sides  of 
their  sabres.  As  he  entered  Paris  in  this  forlorn  condition, 
he  was  met  by  his  zealous  friend,  Giguet,  whose  sorrow  only 
set  his  fertile  brain  to  work  to  devise  means  for  his  escape. 
As  Michaud  was,  diu"ing  many  days,  conducted  from  his- 
prison  to  the  Tuileries,  to  undergo  examination,  Giguet  at 
first  thought  that  the  best  way  would  be  to  blow  out  the 
brains  of  the  two  gendarmes  that  escorted  him  ;  but  this  he 
rejected  as  unworthy  of  a  man  of  genius.  Choosing  a  point 
in  Michaud' s  passage  that  would  answer  his  purpose,  he 
stopped  the  party,  and  aftecting  to  know  nothing  of  the 
matter,  and  not  to  have  seen  his  friend  since  his  arrival  in 
Paris,  was  eager  in  his  inquiries  as  to  how  his  health  was, 
what  he  was  doing,  where  he  was  going,  and  insisted  upon 
his  breakfasting  with  him.  "No,  no,"  answered  Michaud, 
"I  have  a  little  afiair  yonder,  at  the  Tuderies,  just  a  few 
words  of  explanation  to  give — only  the  business  of  a  minute 
or  two. — Begin  breakfast  without  me,  I  shall  be  back  pre- 
sently." "  That  won't  do ;  that  won't  do ;  they  do  not 
despatch  people  so  quickly  as  all  that.  Perhaps  they  won't 
begin  with  you  ;  let  us  have  our  breakfast  first.  I  dare  say 
these  gentlemen  (pointing  to  the  gendarmes)  have  not 
breakfasted,  and  will  have  no  objection  to  a  cutlet  and  a 
glass  of  Bourdeaux  wine  !  and  here's  the  best  house  in  Paris, 
close  at  hand."  The  gendarmes,  after  a  little  faint  hesita- 
tion, sufiered  themselves  to  be  seduced;  and  prisoner,  guards, 
and  friends  were  soon  comfortably  seated  at  table.  They 
eat,  they  drink,  they  pass  bumper  toasts,  and  talk  a  little 
about  everything ;  but  most  particularly  about  Bresse  and 
the  good  cheer  that  was  there  always  to  be  met  with — but 
the  pullets  of  Bresse !  never  was  such  eating  as  the  pullets 
of  Bresse  !  The  mouths  of  the  gendarmes  watered  at  the 
bare  description  of  them.  "  Parbleu,  gentlemen,"  cried 
Giguet,  "  since  you  have  never  partaken  of  our  country  pul- 
lets, I  will  undertake  to  convince  you  that  there  are  none 
such  in  the  eighty-three  departments.  We  have  plenty  of 
time  ;  you  can  eat  a  little  bit  more,  and  appetite  comes  with 

drinking  (and  he  filled  the  glasses) .     Waiter,  here  !  a 

Bresse  pullet !    no  tricks,  mind ;  it  must  be  from  Bresse — • 
not  from  Mans.     But,  stop ;  Michaud,  you  understand  these 


X17  EIO  GRAPHICAL   NOTICE 

thinors  better  tlian  anvbodv :  liave  an  eve  to  these  fellows : 
go  down  into  the  kitchen,  and  see  that  they  don't  cheat  ns. 
Good  health  to  you,  gentlemen."  Whilst  they  are  drinking, 
ISIichaud  rises,  and  is  soon. out  of  the  house.  Giguet  had 
the  art  to  keep  the  guards  another  half-hour  at  table,  by 
sa^Tng  his  friend  was  only  watching  the  cooking,  for  a  Bresse 
piillet  was  worth  nothing  if  not  roasted  a  la  Bresse ;  and 
when  thev  discovered  Michaud  was  not  in  the  kitchen,  he 
asserted  it  must  either  be  a  joke,  or  else  he  was  ill,  and  gone 
home;  and  contrived  to  lead  tliem  a  long  useless  search  in  a 
way  dii'ectly  opposite  to  that  which  he  knew  the  late  prisoner 
had  taken.  Michaud' s  escape  was  a  happy  one;  for  that  very 
day,  the  council  had  condemned  him  to  death.  Poor  Giguet' s 
friendly  zeal  cost  him  nearly  a  month's  imprisonment,  and 
placed  his  life  even  in  jeopardy. 

The  career  of  Buonaparte  was  so  successful,  that,  at  length, 
further  resistance  seemed  useless,  and  Michaud  even  wrote 
complimentary  verses  on  the  marriage  of  Napoleon  with 
Maria  Louisa,  and  upon  the  birth  of  the  young  king  of 
Rome.  But  this  submission  to  circumstances  was  no,volun- 
tarv  homas:^;  he  was  still  at  heart  faithfullv  attached  to  the 
Bourbons.  For  a  length  of  time  he  resisted  the  tempting 
offers  of  the  emperor,  and  one  of  his  refusals,  for  its  wit,  if 
not  for  its  patriotism,  almost  deserves  to  be  placed  by  the 
side  of  Andrew  Marvel's.  Fontaines,  Buonaparte's  emissary, 
said  to  him :  "  There  must  be  an  end  to  all  resistance ;  it  is 
diminishing  every  day.  Come,  do  as  other  men  do.  Look 
at  Delille,  for  instance,  he  has  just  accepted  a  pension  of  six 
thousand  francs."  "Oh!  as  to  that,"  replied  Michaud, 
"  he  is  so  frightened,  that  he  would  accept  a  pension  of  a 
hundred  thousand  francs,  if  vou  were  to  offer  it  to  him." 
Posterity,  perhaps,  may  be  thankful  that  he  was  di*iven  from 
politics  to  literature.  During  one  of  his  necessary  exiles,  he 
had  written  his  beautiful  poem  of  "  Le  Printemps  d'un 
Proscrit :"  he  afterwards  became  associated  with  his  brother 
as  a  bookseller,  and  planned  and  executed  the  works  of 
which  we  will  furnish  a  list.  T^'hatever  opinion  might  be 
entertained  of  his  talents,  it  is  more  than  probable  that 
without  his  implied  submission  to  Buonaparte,  he  never 
would  have  obtained  that  object  of  the  hopes  of  all  French 
authors,  the  immortal  fauteuil  in  the  Academy.    This  honour 


BIOGEAPHICAL   NOTICE.  XV 

he  attained  in  1818,  and,  upon  the  publication  of  his  fourth 
volume  of  the  "History  of  the  Crusades,"  had  the  gratifica- 
tion of  signing  himself  "  Knight  of  the  Order  of  St.  John 
of  Jerusalem,"  and  "  Knight  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  :"  titles 
bestowed  upon  him,  unasked,  by  the  commanders  represent- 
ing the  order  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem  in  France. 

He  watched  with  intense  anxiety  the  madly  ambitious 
career  of  Buonaparte,  and  hailed  with  unfeigned  delight  the 
return  of  his  patrons,  the  Bourbons.     He  had  no  cause  to 
complain  of  their  ingratitude,  and  occupied  as  good  a  posi- 
tion as  a  literary  man  could  expect,  when  the  escape  from 
Elba,  during  a  hundred  days,  disturbed  his  occupations,  and 
placed  him  in  considerable  danger.    He  left  Paris  ;  returned 
again,  and  put  himself  forward  for  a  struggle :  but  finding 
resistance  dangerous  and  useless,  he  retired  to  the  depart- 
ment of  the  Am,  where  he  concealed  himself  till  the  tempest 
had  blown  over ;  his  celebrated  journal,  the  Quotidienne,  in 
the  mean  time,  degenerating  into  the  Feuille  du  Jour,  or 
rather,  as  a  wit  said,  "  La  Eeuille  de  la  veille  (last  night's 
journal)  ;  for  it  was  only  edited  by  scissors,  and  contained 
nothing  but  scraps  from  the  Moniteur  and  other  inoffensive 
journals."     The  JVain  Jaune  (yellow  dwarf)  took  unfair  ad- 
vantage of  an  enemy,  who,  he  knew,  could  not  answer  him, 
and  bestowed  upon  JMichaud  the  sobriquet  of  "  G-rand  Master 
of  the  Order  of  the  Extinguishers,"  which  stuck  to  him  with 
the  burlike  pertinacity  of  sobriquets,  for  many  years  after 
the  second  restoration  of  the  Bourbons.     He  welcomed  this 
last  event  by  the  publication  of  a  pamphlet  entitled  "  The 
History  of  the  Eifteen  Weeks,  or  the  Last  Eeign  of  Buona- 
parte," which  had  a  great  sale,  twenty-seven  editions  of  it 
appearing  in  a  very  short  period.    Having,  since  his  success 
as  an  author,  separated  from  his  brother  as  a  bookseller,  and 
sold  his  share  in  the  printing  office,  he,  after  1815,   gave 
himself -up  to  the  prosecution  of  his  great  work  on  the  cru- 
sades, and  even  parted  with  his  portion  of  "  La  Biographie 
Universelle."     His  love  of  politics  led  him,  at  this  time,  to 
get  returned  as  deputy  for  the  department  of  the  Ain :  but 
alas !    he  found  it  a  very  different  thing  for  a  man  with  a 
weak  voice,  and  totally  "  unaccustomed  to  public  speaking," 
to  sit  and  write  uncontrolled  and  imobserved  in  his  closet, — 
and  to  be  subject  to  the  "retort  courteous"  of  an  enemy 


XVI  3310 GRAPHICAL   ^'OTICE. 

who  watches  for  your  mistakes,  corrects  your  errors,  and 
mercilessly  refutes  all  your  favourite  arguments  :  after  the 
trial  of  one  sessions,  he  retired  from  his  deputyship,  and 
gave  up  all  hopes  of  fame  as  an  orator. 

During  the  celebrity  of  his  journal,  the  Quotidienne,  he 
was  made  reader  to  the  king,  with  a  salary  of  3,000  francs ; 
to  which  appointment  was  attached  the  somewhat  strange 
stipulation,  that  he  should  never  be  called  upon  to  perform 
its  duties.  After  1819,  when  a  plan  was  devised  of  buying 
up  the  influential  joiu-nals,  Michaud  and  his  fellow-proprie- 
tors were  ofiered  500,000  francs  for  theirs,  which  our  author 
declined.  "  Monseigneur,"  said  he  to  the  excellency  who 
soKcited  him,  "  there  is  but  one  thing  for  which  I  could  be 
tempted  to  sell  the  Quotidienne,  and  that  would  be  a  little 
health.  If  you  could  give  me  that,  I  might  allow  myself  to 
be  corrupted."  The  minister,  Yillele,  returned  repeatedly  to 
the  charge,  but  when,  in  consequence  of  the  increasing 
weakness  of  his  health,  the  sexagenarian  Michaud  parted 
with  the  greater  part  of  his  shares  of  the  journal,  it  was  • 
only  to  pass  them  over  to  another  self,  his  friend  Laurentie. 

Whilst  carrying  on  his  great  work,  he  had  been  surprised 
to  meet  with  a  vast  quantity  of  matter  which  he  had  not 
dreamt  of  when  he  began  it ;  and  he  conceived  the  idea  of 
not  only  reconstructing  his  history,  but  of  going  to  the 
Holy  Land,  in  search  of  more  information.  Although  it 
was  too  late  for  such  an  attempt,  his  fame  procured  him 
encouragement ;  and  the  king,  Charles  X.,  so  far  favoured  it 
as  to  give  him  25,000  francs  to  defray  his  expenses.  He 
set  out  at  the  beginning  of  1830.  Whatever  gratification 
he  derived  from  his  voyage,  it  must  have  been  sadly  damped 
by  the  news  he  received  from  France  during  that  eventful 
year.  To  complete  his  griefs,  he  likewise  at  this  period  lost 
200,000  francs,  the  greater  part  of  his  fortune,  which  he 
had  imprudently  placed  in  unsafe  hands.  He  still,  however, 
had  a  moderate  competence,  and  might  have  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days  in  ease,  but  for  that  mismanagement  to 
which  the  families  of  literary  men  are  so  frequently  subject. 
On  his  return  from  the  Holy  Land  he  sojourned  for  a  time 
in  Italy,  where  he  was  kindly  welcomed  by  his  natural 
sovereign,  Charles  Albert.  In  1837  he  was  named  member 
of  the  Academie  des  Inscriptions ;  but  honours  from  mon- 


BIOGKAPHICAL   KOTICE.  XVll 

arclis  and  academies  could  not  put  off  the  fatal  liour,  and 
he  died  at  the  elegant  village  of  Passy  on  the  30th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1839.  On  this  occasion  was  exhibited  an  instance 
of  what  our  poet  calls  "  the  ruling  passion,  strong  in  death." 
Eew  authors  had  reccLved  more  adulation,  and  no  one  could 
be  more  covetous  of  it.  Extraordinary  instances  are  told 
of  the  copious  draughts  of  this  intoxicating  beverage  that 
were  offered  to  him,  and  of  the  greediness  with  which  he 
swallowed  them.  "  J^ever,"  says  his  biographer,  "  although 
he  loved  to  be  called  the  La  Fontaine  of  journalism,  did  he 
think  of  the  second  fable  of  the  good  man."  *  One  of  the 
most  extravagant  of  his  flatterers  said  to  a  friend,  admitted 
for  a  last  interview, — "  With  all  his  weakness,  not  the  least 
trace  of  decline  of  intellect ;  still  the  same  facility  of  expres- 
sion, still  the  same  lucidity." — This  aroused  Michaud,  upon 
whom  the  affectionate  words  of  a  sincere  friend  had  just 
before  produced  no  effect.  He  started,  and  sitting  upright 
in  his  bed,  exclaimed,  in  a  tremulous  voice, — "  Yes !  yes  ! 

still  the  same !  still "  and  he  sunk  exhausted  and  dying 

on  his  pillow :  these  were  his  last  words ! 

To  criticise  the  works  of  Michaud  properly  would  require 
a  volume  ;  we  can  therefore  only  lay  before  our  readers  a  list 
of  such  as  from  their  merit  and  celebrity  are  ever  likely  to 
fall  under  the  eye  of  English  readers.  His  greatest  claim  to 
the  attention  of  posterity  is  doubtless  the  one  before  us,  "The 
History  of  the  Crusades,"  of  which  his  biographer,  who  is 
certainly  less  of  an  eulogist  than  any  one  we  ever  saw  assume 
a  similar  task,  very  justly  says, — "  It  may  be  said,  without 
exaggeration,  that  it  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  historical 
works  that  our  age  has  produced.  To  its  completion  he  sacri- 
ficed almost  every  moment  of  twenty  of  the  best  years  of  his 
life."  No  reader  requires  to  be  told  that  it  was  a  labour  of 
love. — He  was  the  founder  of,  and  a  considerable  contributor 
to,  *'  La  Biographic  XJniverselle,"  a  work  which  England  may 
envy  Erance  the  conception  and  execution  of ;  and  if  to  these 
we  add  his  beautiful  poem  of  "  Le  Printemps  d'un  Proscrit," 
we  think  we  name  all  that  he  wrote  that  would  be  interesting 
at  the  present  day  :  the  other  historical  works  are  feeble, 
and  the  political  squibs  of  a  journalist  after  a  lapse  of  half 

*  Le  Corbeau  et  le  Renard. 


XVm  BIOGEAPHICAL   ^'OTICE. 

a  century,  are  only  acceptable  to  him  who  may  be  writing 
the  history  of  the  time.  In  this  latter  vein  we  may,  how- 
ever, suppose  him  to  have  excelled  ;  mixed  up  from  an  early 
age  with  politics  and  journalism ;  possessed  of  a  lively  ima- 
gination and  great  facility  of  expression ;  constantly  in  the 
world,  and  deeply  interested  in  its  movements ;  we  can  fancy 
his  vers  de  societe,  of  vvhich  so  much  is  said,  to  have  been 
piquant  and  sparkling.  AYe  subjoin  a  specimen,  written 
upon  Buonaparte's  expedition  to  Egypt ; — 

Que  de  lauriers  tombes  dans  I'eau, 
Et  que  de  fortunes  perdues  ! 
Que  d'hommes  coutent  au  torabeau, 
Pour  porter  Bonaparte  aux  nues  ! 
Ce  heros  vaut  son  pesant  d'or ; 
En  France,  personne  n'en  doute  ; 
Mais  il  vaudrait  bien  plus  encore, 
S'il  valoit  tout  ce  qu'il  nous  coute. 


What  laurels  in  the  waters  fall, 
What  fortunes  sink  no  more  to  rise  ! 
What  men  lie  shrouded  in  death's  pall, 
That  Bonaparte  may  gain  the  skies  ! 
This  hero  's  worth  his  weight  in  gold  ; 
In  France  of  that  there's  no  one  doubts  ; 
But  greater  far  his  worth,  if  sold 
At  what  he  costs — or  thereabouts  ! 

As  a  conversationalist  his  reputation  stands  even  higher 
than  that  of  our  Coleridge ;  for  the  stream  was  quite  as 
constant  and  abundant,  and  at  the  same  time  much  more 
pellucid.  One  of  our  English  biographical  dictionaries  says 
he  was  censor  of  the  press  under  Louis  XVIIL,  but  this  we 
believe  is  not  correct ;  indeed  it  was  an  office  scarcely  suit- 
able for  the  editor  and  proprietor  of  such  a  journal  as  the 
Quotidienne.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Academy  and  of  the 
Institute,  a  knight  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem  and  of  the 
Holy  Sepulchre,  and  for  a  short  time  representative  of  the 
department  of  the  Ain.  These  were  his  temporary  honours 
— much  more  durable  and  brilliant  ones  belong  to  him  as 
the  author  of  the  work  before  us. 


INTEODUCTION. 


The  history  of  the  middle  ages  presents  no  spectacle 
more  imposing  than  the  Crusades,  in  which  are  to  be  seen 
the  nations  of  Asia  and  of  Europe  armed  against  each  other, 
two  religions  contending  for  superiority,  and  disputing  the 
empire  of  the  world.  After  having  been  several  times 
threatened  by  the  Mussulmans,  and  a  long  time  exposed  to 
their  invasions,  all  at  once  the  West  arouses  itself,  and 
appears,  according  to  the  expression  of  a  Greek  historian,* 
to  tear  itself  from  its  foundation,  in  order  to  precipitate 
itself  upon  Asia.  All  nations  abandon  their  interests  and 
their  rivalries,  and  see  upon  the  face  of  the  earth  but  one 
single  country  vrorthy  of  the  ambition  of  conquerors.  One 
would  believe  that  there  no  longer  exists  in  the  universe  any 
other  city  but  Jerusalem,  or  any  other  habitable  spot  of 
earth  but  that  which  contains  the  tomb  of  Jesus  Christ.  All 
the  roads  which  lead  to  the  holy  city  are  deluged  with  blood, 
and  present  nothing  but  the  scattered  spoils  and  wrecks  of 
empires. 

In  this  general  confusion  we  may  contemplate  the  sub- 
limest  virtues  mixed  with  all  the  disorders  of  the  wildest 
passions.  The  Christian  soldiers  have  at  the  same  time  to 
contend  against  famine,  the  influence  of  climate,  and  enemies 
the  most  formidable ;  in  the  greatest  dangers,  in  the  midst 
of  their  successes  and  their  constant  discords,  nothing  can 

*  Anna  Comnena,  History  nf  the  Emperor  Alexius, 


XX  rs'TEODrcTioy. 

exhaust  eitlier  their  perseverance  or  their  resignation.  After 
four  years  of  fatigue,  of  miseries,  and  of  victories,  Jeru- 
salem is  taken  by  the  Crusaders  ;  but  as  their  conquests  are 
not  the  work  of  wisdom  and  prudence,  but  the  fruit  of  blind 
enthusiasm  and  ill-directed  heroism,  they  create  nothing  but 
a  transient  power. 

The  banner  of  the  cross  soon  passes  from  the  hands  of 
Godfrey  de  Bouillon  into  those  of  his  weak  and  imbecile 
successors.  Jerusalem,  now  a  Christian  city,  is  obHged 
again  to  apply  for  succour  to  the  West.  At  the  voice  of 
St.  Bernard,  the  Christians  take  arms.  Conducted  by  an 
emperor  of  Grermany  and  a  king  of  France,  they  fly  to  the 
defence  of  the  Holy  Land ;  but  they  have  no  longer  great 
captains  among  them ;  they  have  none  of  the  magnanimity 
or  heroic  resignation  of  their  fathers.  Asia,  which  beholds 
their  coming  without  terror,  already  presents  a  new  spec- 
tacle. The  disciples  of  Mahomet  awaken  from  their  apathy  ; 
they  are  at  once  seized  with  a  frenzy  equal  to  that  which 
had  armed  their  enemies  ;  they  oppose  enthusiasm  to  enthu- 
siasm, fanaticism  to  fanaticism,  and  in  their  turn  burn  with 
a  desire  to  shed  their  blood  in  a  religious  war. 

The  spirit  of  discord  which  had  destroyed  their  power  is 
no  longer  felt  but  among  the  Cln-istians.  Luxury  and  the 
manners  of  the  East  weaken  the  courage  of  the  defenders 
of  the  cross,  and  make  them  forget  the  object  even  of  the 
holv  war.  Jerusalem,  which  had  cost  the  Cioisaders  so 
much  blood,  falls  again  into  the  power  of  the  infidels,  and 
becomes  the  conquest  of  a  wise  and  warlike  piince,  who  had 
united  under  his  banner  the  forces  of  Syria  and  Egypt. 

The  genius  and  fortune  of  Saladin  inflict  a  mortal  blow 
upon  the  iU-assured  power  of  the  Christians  in  the  East. 
In  vain  an  emperor  of  the  "West,  and  two  kings  celebrated 
for  their  bravery,  place  themselves  at  the  head  of  the  whole 
powers  of  their  states  to  deliver  Palestine ;  these  new  armies 
of  Crusaders  meet  everywhere  with  brave  enemies  and 
invincible  barriers,  and  all  their  united  eflbrts  produce 
nothing  but  illustrious  disasters.  The  kingdom  of  Jeru- 
salem, for  whose  ruius  they  contend,  is  no  longer  anything 
but  a  vain  name  ;  soon  even  the  captivity  and  the  miseries 
of  the  holy  city  cease  to  inspire  the  sentiments  of  piety  and 
enthusiasm  that  they  had  given  birth  to  among  the  Chris- 


INTllODUCTIO]!?.  XXI 

tians.  The  Crusaders  who  had  taken  up  arms  for  its 
deliverance,  suffer  themselves  to  be  seduced  bj  the  wealth 
of  G-reece,  and  stop  short  to  undertake  the  conquest  of 
Constantinople. 

From  that  time  the  spirit  of  the  Crusaders  begins  to 
change  ;  whilst  a  small  number  of  Christians  still  shed  their 
blood  for  the  deliverance  of  the  tomb  of  Jesus  Christ,  the 
princes  and  the  knights  are  deaf  to  everything  but  the 
voice  of  ambition.  The  popes  complete  the  corruption  of 
the  true  spirit  of  the  Crusaders,  by  urging  them  on,  by 
their  preaching,  against  other  Christian  people,  and  against 
their  own  personal  enemies.  The  holy  wars  then  degenerate 
into  civil  wars,  in  which  both  religion  and  humanity  are 
outraged. 

These  abuses  of  the  crusades,  and  the  dire  passions  which 
had  mixed  themselves  with  them,  plunge  Europe  in  disorder 
and  anarchy ;  when  a  pious  king  undertakes  once  more  to 
arm  the  powers  of  the  AVest  against  the  infidels,  and  to 
revive  among  the  Crusaders  the  spirit  which  had  animated 
the  companions  of  Godfrey.  The  two  wars  directed  by  this 
pious  chief,  are  more  unfortunate  than  all  the  others.  In 
the  first,  the  world  is  presented  with  the  spectacle  of  a  cap- 
tive army  and  a  king  in  fetters ;  in  the  second,  that  of  a 
powerful  monarch  dying  in  its  ashes.  Then  it  is  that  the 
illusion  disappears,  and  Jerusalem  ceases  to  attract  all  the 
attention  of  the  West. 

Soon  after,  the  face  of  Europe  is  changed ;  intelligence 
dissipates  barbarism  ;  the  crusades  no  longer  excite  the  same 
degree  of  enthusiasm,  and  the  first  eftect  of  the  civilization 
it  begins  to  spread  is  to  weaken  the  spirit  of  the  fanaticism 
which  had  given  them  birth.  Some  few  useless  efforts  are 
at  times  made  to  rekindle  the  fire  which  had  burnt  so 
fiercely  in  Europe  and  Asia.  The  nations  are  so  completely 
recovered  from  the  pious  delirium  of  the  Crusades,  that 
when  Germany  finds  itself  menaced  by  the  Mussulmans 
who  are  masters  of  Constantinople,  the  banner  of  the  cross 
can  with  difficulty  gather  an  army  around  it ;  and  Europe, 
which  had  risen  in  a  mass  to  attack  the  infidels  in  Asia, 
opposes  but  a  feeble  resistance  to  them  on  its  own  ter- 
ritories. 

Such  is,  in  a  few  words,  the  picture  of  the  events  and 


Xiii  INTEODUCTION. 

revolutions  which  the  historian  of  the  crusades  has  to 
describe.  A  writer  who  has  preceded  us  by  two  centuries^ 
and  who  calls  the  history  of  the  Crusades  a  right  royal  his- 
tory, is  surprised  at  the  silence  preserved  to  his  time.*  "  ] 
esteem  it,"  says  he,  "a  deplorable  thing  that  such  persons 
inferior  in  no*  way  to  those  who  have  been  so  much  cele- 
brated by  the  Greeks  and  the  Eomans,  should  have  falleu 
into  sucii  obscurity,  that  we  search  in  vain  to  discovej 
who  they  were  and*  what  they  did  ;  and  they  appear  to  m« 
highly  culpable,  who,  possessing  learning  and  the  skill  to 
write*  have  left  these  histories  neglected."  Everybody 
ought  now  to  be  of  this  opinion,  and  regret  that  our  great 
writers  have  not  entertained  the  noble  subject  of  the  Cioi- 
sades.  AYhen  I  undertake  to  supply  the  want  created  by 
their  silence,  I  am  duly  impressed  with  the  difficulty  of  the 
task. 

They  who,  among  us,  have  written  ancient  history,  had 
for  guides  the  historians  of  Eome  and  Athens.  The  bril- 
liant colours  of  Livy,  of  Tacitus,  of  Thucydides  presented 
themselves  naturally  to  their  pencils  ;  but  I  have  no  models 
to  follow,  and  am  compelled  to  make  those  historians  of  the 
middle  ages  speak  whom  our  times  despise.  They  have 
rai-elv  sustained  me  in  mv  labour  bv  the  charm  of  their  stvle, 
or  the  elesance  of  their  narrations  ;  but  if  thev  have  afforded 
me  no  lessons  in  the  art  of  writing:,  thev  transmit  to  me  at 

CI? '  » 

least  events  whose  interest  will  make  up  for  the  deficiency 
of  their  talent  or  mine.  Perhaps  it  will  be  found,  in  the 
perusal  of  this  history,  that  a  period  in  which  everything  is 
astonishing  loses  nothing  by  being  presented  in  a  simple  and 
faithful  picture.  The  unaffected  style  of  our  old  historians, 
in  my  view,  appears  to  reanimate  the  persons  and  the  cha- 
racters they  describe  ;  and  if  I  have  profited  by  that  which 
thev  have  taught  me,  the  ao:e  in  which  thev  lived  will  not  be 
ill  represented  in  my  pages.  It  would  have  been  easy  for 
me  to  have  censured  with  severity,  as  has  usually  been  done, 
their  ignorance  and  their  credulity,  but  I  respect  in  them 
the  frankness  and  the  candour  of  the  periods  of  which  they 

*  History  of  the  Holy  War  made  by  the  French  and  other  Christians 
for  the  deliverance  of  Judea  and  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  composed  in  Greek 
and  French,  by  Yves  Duchat,  a  Trojan.  This  history  is  translated  almost 
literally  from  the  History  of  Accolti,  entitled  De  Bello  Sacro. 


IKTRODUCTIOIS".  XXlll 

are  the  interpreters.  AYithout  yielding  faith  to  all  they 
say,  I  have  not  disdained  the  fables  they  relate  to  ns,  and 
which  were  believed  by  their  contemporaries  ;  for  that  which 
was  thought  worthy  of  credit  then  serves  to  picture  to  us 
the  manners  of  our  ancestors,  and  forms  an  essential  part  of 
tlie  history  of  past  ages. 

We  do  not  now  require  much  sagacity  to  discover  in  our 
ancient  chronicles  what  is  fabulous  and  what  is  not.  A  far 
more  difficult  thing  is  to  reconcile,  upon  some  points,  the 
frequent  contradictory  assertions  of  the  Latins,  the  Greeks, 
and  the  Saracens,  and  to  separate,  in  the  history  of  the  cru- 
sades, that  which  belongs  to  religious  fanaticism,  to  policy, 
or  to  human  passions.  I  do  not  pretend  to  resolve  more 
skilfully  than  others  these  difficult  problems,  or  to  elevate 
myself  above  my  subject,  by  ottering  positive  judgments 
upon  the  nations  and  ages  which  will  present  themselves 
before  me.  Without  giving  myself  up  to  digressions  in 
Avhich  it  is  always  easy  to  make  a  display  of  learning,  after 
having  scrupulously  examined  the  historical  monuments 
which  remain  to  us,  I  will  tell  honestly  what  I  believe  to  be 
the  truth,  and  will  leave  dissertations  to  the  erudite,  and 
conjectures  to  philosophers. 

In  an  age  in  which  some  value  is  set  upon  an  opinion  of 
the  crusades,  it  will  be  first  asked,  if  the  wars  of  the  Cru- 
sades were  just.  Upon  this  head  we  have  but  little  to  an- 
swer :  whilst  the  Crusaders  believed  that  they  were  obeying 
God  himself,  by  attacking  the  Saracens  in  the  East,  the  lat- 
ter, who  had  invaded  a  part  of  Asia  possessed  by  Christian 
people,  who  had  got  possession  of  Spain,  who  threatened 
Constantinople,  the  coasts  of  Italy,  and  several  countries  ot 
the  West,  did  not  reproach  their  enemies  with  making  an 
unjust  war,  and  left  to  fortune  and  victory  the  care  of  de- 
ciding a  question  almost  always  useless. 

We  shall  think  it  of  more  importance  in  this  history  to 
examine  what  was  the  cause  and  the  nature  of  these  remote 
wars,  and  what  has  proved  to  be  their  influence  on  civiliza- 
tion. The  crusades  were  produced  by  the  religious  and 
military  spirit  which  prevailed  in  Europe  diuing  the  middle 
ages.  The  love  of  arms  and  religious  fervour  were  two 
dominant  passions,  which,  mingling  in  some  way,  lent  each 
other  a  mutual  energy.     These  two  great  principles  united 


XXIV  LNTEODUCTION. 

and  acting  together,  gave  birth  to  the  holy  war ;  and  car- 
ried, among  the  Crusaders,  valour,  resignation,  and  heroism 
of  character  to  the  highest  degree  of  eminence. 

The  part  which  the  union  of  these  two  principles  neces- 
sarily had  in  the  undertaking  of  the  holy  wars  will  be  plainly 
perceived  in  our  narration.  It  will  be  much  less  easy  for  us 
to  make  all  the  results  of  the  crusades  appreciated.  Some 
writers  have  seen  nothing  in  these  great  expeditions  but  the 
most  deplorable  excesses,  without  any  advantage  to  the  ages 
that  succeeded  them  ;  others,  on  the  contrary,  maintain  that 
we  owe  to  thein  all  the  benefits  of  civilization.  It  is  not,  at 
present,  my  business  to  examine  these  two  conflicting  opi- 
nions. Without  believing  that  the  holy  wars  have  done 
either  all  the  good  or  all  the  harm  that  is  attributed  to  them, 
it  must  be  admitted  that  they  were  a  source  of  bitter  sorrow 
to  the  generations  that  saw  them  or  took  part  in  them ;  but, 
like  the  ills  and  tempests  of  human  life,  which  render  man 
better,  and  often  assist  the  progress  of  his  reason,  they  have 
forwarded  the  experiences  of  nations ;  and  it  may  be  said, 
that  after  having  for  a  time  seriously  agitated  and  shaken 
society,  they  have,  in  the  end,  much  strengthened  the  foun- 
dations of  it.  This  opinion,  when  stripped  of  all  spirit 
of  exaggeration  or  system,  will,  perhaps,  appear  the  most 
reasonable ;  I,  besides,  experience  some  pleasure  in  adopting 
it,  from  its  being  consolatory  to  the  age  in  which  we  live. 
The  present  generation  which  has  witnessed  the  outbreak  of 
so  many  passions  on  the  political  scene,  which  has  passed 
through  so  many  calamities,  will  not  see  without  interest 
that  Providence  sometimes  employs  great  revolutions  to 
enlighten  mankind,  and  to  ensure  the  future  prosperity  of 
empires. 


CONTENTS  TO  VOL.  I. 


Biographical  Notices  of  the  Author  . .         . .         . .     Page  xi 

Introduction  to  the  History  of  the  Crusades        ..  xix 

BOOK  I.— A.D.  300-1095. 
FIKST    CRUSADE. 

Early  pilgrimages  to  the  Holy  Land — Veneration  for  the  Holy  Sepul- 
chre— Palestine  visited  by  the  early  Christians — Jerusalem  their  peaceful 
asylum — Profaned  by  Fire  Worshippers — Recaptured  by  Heraclius — 
Spread  of  the  religion  of  Maiiomet — Worship  of  the  Magi  annihilated 
by  Mohammedanism — Empire  of  Persia  torn  by  intestine  wars — Anarchy 
of  the  East — Fanaticism  and  bravery  of  the  Saracens — Their  conquests 
—Paganism  annihilated  by  Mohammedanism — Monarchy  of  the  Goths 
overturned — Charles  Martel — The  caliph  Omar  captures  Jerusalem — 
Christians  persecuted  by  the  Mussulmans — Pilgrimages  of  Peter  the 
Hermit,  &c. — Haroun-al-Raschid — Charlemagne — Siege  of  Constanti- 
nople— Bagdad — Conquest  of  the  Arabians — St.  Bernard — Commerce  of 
the  East— Caliphs  of  Bagdad — The  Fatimites — The  Greeks — Antioch — 
Zimisces,  emperor  of  the  Greeks — Fatimite  caliphs  capture  Jerusalem — 
Caliphs  of  Cairo — William  of  Tyre — Persecutions  of  the  Jews — Pilgrims 
welcomed  everywhere — King  Robert — Memphis— Bethlehem — Monas- 
teries for  the  pilgrims — Hospitals  at  Jerusalem — Mystery  of  the  Re- 
demption— Pilgrimages  of  distinguished  persons  the  forerunner  of  the 
Crusades — The  Turks — The  Sultan  Mamouh — Togrul-Beg — Victorious 
career  of  the  Turks — Malek-Scha — Jerusalem  captured — Nicea — The 
Greeks — The  Seldjouc  tribes — Eleven  emperors  of  Constantinople 
put  to  death — Death  of  Zimisces — Military  ardour  of  the  Franks — 
Michael  Ducas — Pope  Gregory  VII. — Power  of  the  popes — Rome — 
Pope  Hildebrand — Pope  Victor  III.  incites  the  Christians  to  take  arms 
against  the  infidels — Conquests  of  the  Genoese  and  Pisans — Peter  the 
Hermit — His  interviews  with  the  patriarch  of  Jerusalem  and  Pope 
Urban  II. — The  crusades  instigated  by  Peter — First  determined  on  at 
the  council  of  Clermont,  convoked  by  Urban  II. — Enthusiasm  in  their 
favour pp.  1-60. 

Vol.  I.— 2 


XXVI  CONTENTS. 


BOOK  II.— A.D.  109G-1097. 

Immense  armies  collected  in  various  parts  of  Europe— Peter  the 
Hermit  chosen  general  of  the  crusade — Opposed  by  the  Hungarians  and 
Bulgarians  —  Semlin  —  Nissa  —  The  Crusaders  reach  Constantinople  — 
Alexius  Comnenus  —  Rapacity  and  crut-lties  of  the  Crusaders — Their 
defeat  and  slaughter — Fresli  armies  sent  from  Europe — Their  distin- 
guished leaders — They  wage  war  against  the  Greeks — Alliance  of  Godfrey 
de  Bouillon  with  Alexius  of  Constantinople — Wretched  situation  of  the 
remains  of  Peter's  army  in  Bithynia — The  Turkish  power — Kingdom  of 
Ezeroum — Siege  of  Nice — Battle  of  Gorgoni— The  Turks  defeated  by 
the  Crusaders — Sultan  of  Nice  desolates  the  country — Antiochetta — 
Iconium — Tarsus  captured  by  Baldwin — His  conflicts  with  Tancred — 
Capture  of  Alexandretta  and  Edessa  by  the  Crusaders— They  arrive  in 
Mesopotamia pp.  61-125. 


BOOK  III.— A.D.  1097-1099. 

The  Crusaders  everywhere  triumphant — Their  sufferings  in  passing 
Mount  Taurus — Enter  Syria — Damascus — Aleppo — Capture  of  Chalcis 
and  Artesia — Siege  of  Antioch — Sweno,  king  of  Denmark — Barbarous 
treatment  of  the  Turks — Ambassadors  from  Egypt — City  of  Harem — 
The  Crusaders  relieved  by  the  Pisans  and  Genoese — Baldwin,  prince  of 
Edessa — Antioch  captured — Quarrel  of  Godfrey  de  Bouillon  and  Bohe- 
mond — Kerbogha,  sultan  of  Mossoul — Sultan  of  Persia  sends  an  im- 
mense army  against  the  Crusaders — Contests  before  Antioch — Sufferings 
of  the  Crusaders — Subtle  poUcy  of  Alexius — Kerbogha  besieges  Antioch 
— Pretended  miracles — The  sacred  lance — Speech  of  Peter  the  Hermit  to 
the  Saracen  leaders,  and  Kerbogha's  haughty  reply — Saracens  defeated  by 
the  Crusaders — Instances  of  heroic  bravery — Magnificent  encampment 
of  Kerbogha — The  miraculous  influence  of  the  holy  lance  doubted — 
Death  of  Baldwin  count  of  Hainault — Fatal  epidemic  at  Antioch — Death 
of  Bishop  Puy — Docility  of  a  lion — Geoffrey  de  la  Tour — Foulque  and 
his  widow — Hezas,  the  emir,  allies  himself  with  the  Crusaders,  and 
defeats  the  sultan  of  Aleppo — Letters  conveyed  by  pigeons — Miracu- 
lous prodigies — Capture  of  Maarah — Conquests  in  Syria  by  the  Cru- 
saders     pp.  126-186. 


BOOK  IV.— A.D.  1099-1103. 

The  Crusaders  take  their  departure  from  Antioch,  and  march  for 
Palestine — Siege  of  Archas — Pons  de  Balasu — Arnold  de  Rohes,  and 
his  disbelief  in  prodigies — Fanatacism  of  Barthelemi — The  holy  lance — 
Ordeal  by  fire — Hatred  of  the  Latins  towards  the  Greeks  — Caliph  of 


CONTENTS.  xxvi; 

Cairo — Emir  of  Tripoli  defeated — Palestine — Phoenicia — Plain  of  Berytu* 
— Serpents — Ptolemais — Emmaus  and  Bethlehem — Alarm  from  an  eclipse 
— The  city  of  Jerusalem — Enthusiasm  of  the  Crusaders  on  first  beholding 
it — Siege  of  Jerusalem — Indignities  heaped  upon  the  Christians — Foun- 
tain of  Siloe — The  Genoese  fleet  enter  the  port  of  Jaffa — Gaston  de 
Beam — Mount  of  Olives — Address  of  Arnold  de  Rohes — Speech  of  Pete} 
the  Hermit  to  the  Crusaders — Tower  of  Tancred— Machines  used  at  the 
siege  of  Jerusalem — The  Saracen  magicians — Miraculous  appearance  oi 
St.  George — The  Crusaders  enter  Jerusalem  by  storm — Creton  Rheim- 
hault — Everard  de  Puysaie — Mosque  of  Omar — Slaughter  of  the  Mus- 
sulmans, and  pious  fervour  of  the  Christians — Destruction  of  the  Jews — 
Wealth  found  in  Jerusalem — Discovery  of  the  "  true  cross" — Speech  ol 
the  count  of  Flanders — Prophetic  visions — Godfrey  elected  king  of  Jeru- 
salem— Rejoicings  among  the  Christians,  and  despair  of  the  Mussulmans 
— Elegy  of  ModhafFer  Abyverdy — Afdhal,  the  Muj^sulman  commander — 
Signal  defeat  of  the  Saracens  at  Ascalon — Tasso — Godfrey's  quarrel  with 
Raymond — Siege  of  Ascalon — Riou  de  Loheac — Stephen  de  Salviac — 
Peter  de  Salviac — Death  of  Gaston  de  Beam — Peter  the  Hermit  and 
many  of  the  Christian  leaders  return  to  Europe — William  IX.,  count 
of  Flanders,  sets  out  for  the  East — William,  count  de  Nevers,  defeated 
by  the  Turks — Eude,  duke  of  Burgundy,  slain — Conrad,  marshal  of 
Henry  I.  of  Germany — Wolf  IX.,  duke  of  Bavaria — Humbert  II.,  count 
of  Savoy,  departs  for  the  Holy  Land — Alexius,  emperor  of  Constan- 
tinople, opposes  the  Crusaders — City  of  Ancyra  captured — The  Crusaders 
defeated  by  the  Turks — Capture  of  Tortosa — Invasions  of  the  Tar- 
tars—  Tasso's  "Jerusalem  Delivered"  —  Ordinances  of  Gaston  de 
Beam pp.  187-264. 


BOOK  v.— A.D.  1099-1148. 

Kingdom  founded  by  the  victories  of  the  Crusaders — State  of  Palestine 
at  that  period — Political  measures  of  Godfrey — Tiberias  captured  by 
Tancred — Siege  of  Arsur — Jerusalem  visited  by  numerous  pilgrims  and 
distinguished  Crusaders — Archbishop  Daimbert  elected  patriarch  of  Jeru- 
salem— "  Assizes  of  Jerusalem" — Death  of  Godfrey — His  brother  Bald- 
win elected  king— Carries  on  successful  hostilities  against  the  Infidels  of 
Palestine,  Egypt,  &c.  —  Csesarea  and  Arsur  besieged  and  captured — City 
of  Ramla  taken  by  the  Saracens — Hospitallers  of  St.  John — Insidious 
poUcy  of  Alexius — Josselin  de  Courtenay — Baldwin  taken  prisoner — 
Bohemond,  prince  of  Antioch,  visits  Italy,  and  returns  with  a  large  army 
against  Alexius — His  death — Release  of  Baldwin — Distresses  of  Antioch 
— Quarrels  between  Baldwin  and  the  patriarch  of  Jerusalem — The 
Genoese  and  Pisan  fleets  assist  the  Crusaders — Siege  and  capture  of 
Ptolemais — Armies  of  Egypt  defeated— Tripoli,  Biblies,  Sarepta,  Berytus, 
and  Sidon,  taken  by  the  Crusaders — Sigur,  prince  of  Norway — The 
"  tme  cross" — Death  of  Tancred — The  Christians  defeated  —  Palestine 
devastated — Death  of  Baldwin — Baldwin  du  Bourg  elected  king  of 
Jerusalem — Taken  prisoner — Eustache  Grenier,  regent — The  Venetians 


xxvm  co^'TE^'Ts. 

destroy  the  fleet  of  the  Saracens,  and  conquer  Tyre-- -Release  of  Baldwin 
— Several  cities  of  Egypt  captured — The  I^maelians — Zengui,  prince  of 
Mossoul — Dynasty  of  the  Atabecks — Flourishing  state  of  Antioch, 
Edessa,  Tripoli,  Sic. — Knights  of  St.  John  and  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre — 
The  Templars — Death  of  Baldwin  du  Bourg — Foulque  of  Anjou  crowned 
king  of  Jerusalem — Raymond  of  Poiciers  appointed  governor  of  Antioch 
— The  emperor  of  Constantinople  attacks  Antioch — Melisende,  queen  of 
Jerusalem — Baldwin  III.  ascends  the  throne — Disastrous  retreat  from 
Bosra — The  country  of  Traconite— Conquests  of  Zengui  —  Death  of  Jos- 
selin  de  Courtenay — Noureddin,  son  of  Zengui,  captures  Edessa,  and 
threatens  Jerusalem pp.  265-328. 


BOOK  VI.— A.D.  1142—1148. 

SECOND    CRUSADE. 

Europe  aroused  to  a  second  crusade  by  the  impending  dangers  of  Jeru- 
salem and  the  Holy  Land — The  Abbot  St.  Bernard — Louis  VIL  of 
France — He  destroys  Vitri,  repents,  and  determines  on  a  crusade  against  the 
infidels — Pope  Eugenius  111.  invokes  the  assistance  of  the  faithful — Pons, 
abbot  of  Vezelai — Preaching  of  St.  Bernard — State  of  the  Germanic 
empire — Conrad  111.  invokes  a  general  diet  at  Spires,  and  engages  in  the 
crusade — Many  distinguished  personages  take  the  cross — Enthusiausm  of 
the  Germans — Conrad  and  Louis  VII.  arrive  at  Constantinople — Hypo- 
critical policy  of  the  emperor,  and  treachery  of  the  Greeks — Alarm 
created  by  an  eclipse  of  the  sun — The  Crusaders  defeated  by  the  Turks — 
The  oriflamme — Fatal  blunder  of  Geoffrey  de  Ran^on — Reported  death 
of  Louis  VII. — Everard  des  Banes,  grand  master  of  the  Templars — 
Perfidious  policy  of  the  Greeks — Sufferings  of  the  Crusaders — Louis  VII. 
arrives  at  Antioch  with  a  small  portion  of  his  army  — Eleanor  of  Guienne 
repudiated  by  her  husband,  Louis  VII. — He  proceeds  to  the  Holy  Land 
—  Conrad  arrives  at  Jerusalem — Baldwin  III.  urges  on  the  war — The 
Crusaders  besiege  Damciscus,  and  are  repulsed — Ayoub,  the  father  of 
Saladin  —  The  Sclaves  —  Crusaders  in  Spain  and  Portugal  —  Sugar, 
minister  of  France — Unfortunate  results  of  this  crusade — The  con- 
quests of  Noureddin — The  deaths  of  Raymond,  Josselin,  Suger,  and 
St.  Bernard   pp.  329-381. 


BOOK  VII.— A.D.  1148-1188. 

TniED    CEUS.VDE. 

The  religion  of  Mahomet — State  of  the  East  at  the  time  of  the  third 
crusade — Dynasties  of  the  Saracens  and  the  Turks  almost  annihilated — 
Caliphs  of  Bagdad,  the  chiefs  of  Islamism — Heroic  character  of  Nour- 


COISTTEKTS.  XIIX 

eddin — Capture  of  Asoalan  by  Baldwin  III. — Baldwin's  death — His 
brother  Amaury  elected  Ins  sa<cPS-or — Distracted  state  of  Egypt — War- 
like preparations  against — Capture  of  Bilbeis  by  Baldwin — The  Syrians 
invade  Egypt — Baldwin  marries  tlie  daughter  of  thf  emperor  Manuel — 
Makes  war  on  Esypt — Deposition  and  death  of  the  caliph.  The  Fatimite 
dynasty  extinguished — Extensive  power  of  Noureddin,  the  sultan  of 
Aleppo  and  Damascus — Saladin,  the  vizier  of  Egypt — Death  of  Nour- 
eddin— Empire  of  the  Atabecks  declines — Death  of  Amaury — The  vic- 
tories of  Saladin  in  Syria — Baldwin  IV.,  king  of  Jerusalem — The  Mame- 
lukes—Guy of  Lusignan— Renaud  de  Chatillon — Raised  to  the  throne  of 
Antioch  —  His  various  military  adventures  — Rebellion  of  Gay  de  Lusig- 
nan—  Distracted  state  of  Jerusalem — Interview  between  Henry  II.  of  Eng- 
land and  Heraclius,  patriarch  of  Constantinople — Philip  Augustus,  king 
of  France — Deaths  of  Baldwin  IV.  and  V. — Guy  de  Lusignan,  the  sove- 
reign of  Jerusa'em — Sybilla,  daughter  of  Amaury — The  Templars  defeated 
with  great  slaughtj^r — Tibrrias  taken  by  S.iladin — Disastrous  defeat  of  the 
Christians — Capture  of  the  "true  cross" — Guy  de  Lusignan  and  many 
distingui.-hed  knights  taken  prisoners  or  slain — Saladin  captures  Ptole- 
niai's,  Ascalon,  Gaza,  and  numerous  other  cities  in  Palestine — He  takes 
possession  of  Jerusalem — Sufferings  of  the  Christians — The  archbishop 
of  Tyre  preaches  in  supjiort  of  the  holy  war — Henry  II.  of  England, 
Richard  I.  and  Philip  of  France  determine  on  renewiiig  the  holy  war — 
Persecution  and  massacre  of  the  Jews — Archbishop  Baldwin  preaches 
the  crusade  in  England — Frederick  Barbarossa  engages  in  the  crusade — 
Miraculous  vision —Contentions  between  the  Greeks  and  the  Latins — 
Andronicus  of  Constantinople  dethroned — The  Greeks  defeated  by  Bar- 
barossa— His  victorious  career — His  death pp.  382—450. 


BOOK  VIII.— A.D.  1188-1192. 

The  conquests  of  Saladin — Cotirad  of  Montferrat— Siege  of  Tyre — 
Marquis  of  Montferrat— The  "  Green  Knight"— Siege  of  Tripoli— Wil- 
liam, king  of  Sicily,  engages  in  the  holy  war — Admiral  Margaritt  defends 
Tripoli — Capture  of  Tortosa — Heroic  defence  of  Carac — Release  of  Guy 
de  Lusignan — His  siege  of  Ptolemais,  and  his  numerous  conflicts  with 
Saladin — Description  of  Ptolemais — Karacoush,  minister  of  Saladin — 
Conrad,  marquis  of  Tyre,  fits  out  a  fleet  for  the  Holy  Land— Bravery  of 
the  Mamelukes — Death  of  Andre  de  Brienne — Defeat  of  the  Crusaders  at 
Ptolemais  by  Saladin— Death  of  Frederick,  duke  of  Swabia,  and  of 
Sybilla,  wife  of  Guy  de  Lusignan — Disputes  about  the  succession  to  the 
kingdom  of  Jerusalem — Humphrey  de  Thorone — Conrad — Eleanor  of 
Guienne — Philip  of  France  arrives  at  Palestine — Cyprus  captured  by 
Richard  I. — His  marriage  to  Berengaria  of  Navarre — Jane,  queen  of 
Sicily — Isaac  Comnenus  —  Disputes  respecting  the  sovereignty  of  Jeru- 
salem— Arrival  of  Richard  I.  before  the  walls  of  Ptolemais — His  quarrels 
with  Philip  of  France — Conflicts  with  Saladin — Ptolemais  taken  by  the 
Christians — Guy  de  Chatillon,  Josselin  de  Montmorency,  and  some  of 


XXX  CONTEXTS. 

the  bravest  nobility  of  Europe,  slain — The  Mohammedans — Leopold, 
duke  of  Austria  —  Philip  of  France  quits  Palestine,  and  returns  to 
France — Battle  of  Arsur — Ascalon  destroyed  by  Saladin,  and  rebuilt  by 
Richard  I. — Richard  marches  on  Jerusalem — Conrad  assassinated  — 
Treaty  of  peace  between  Richard  and  Saladin — Guy  de  Lusignan  obtains 
the  sovereignty  of  Cyprus — Palestine  ceded  to  Henry,  count  of  Cham- 
pagne—  Characters  of  Richard  I.  and  of  Saladin — Leopold  of  Austria 
detains  Richard  as  a  prisoner — Death  of  Saladin — Malek-Adel  takes 
possession  of  Egypt pp.  451-500. 


H  I  S  T  0  E  Y 


OF 


THE    CKUSADES. 


BOOK    I. 

A.D.  300—1095. 

Eeom  tlie  earliest  ages  of  tlie  Church,  a  custom  had  been 
practised  of  making  pilgrimages  to  the  Holy  Land.  Judea, 
full  of  religious  remembrances,  "\A-as  still  the  promised  land 
of  the  faithful ;  the  blessings  of  heaven  appeared  to  be  in 
store  for  those  who  visited  Calvary,  the  tomb  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  renewed  their  baptism  i-n  the  waters  of  the 
Jordan.  Under  the  reign  of  Constantino,  the  ardour  for 
pilgrimages  increased  among  the  faithful ;  they  flocked  from 
all  tlie  provinces  of  the  empire  to  worship  Jesus  Christ  upon 
his  own  tomb,  and  to  trace  the  steps  of  their  God  in  that 
city  which  had  but  just  resumed  its  name,  and  which  the 
piety  of  an  emperor  had  caused  to  issue  from  its  ruins.  The 
Holy  Sepulchre  presented  itself  to  the  eyes  of  the  pilgrim.3 
siu-rounded  by  a  magnificence  v/hich  redoubled  their  vene- 
ration. An  obscure  cavern  had  become  a  marble  temple, 
paved  with  precious  stones  and  decorated  with  splendid 
colonnades.  To  the  east  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  appeared 
the  chm'ch  of  the  Eesurrection,  in  which  they  could  admire 
the  riches  of  Asia,  mingled  with  the  arts  of  Greece  and 
Bome.  Constantine  celebrated  the  thirty-first  year  of  his 
reign  by  the  inauguration  of  this  church,  and  thousands  of 
Christians  came,  on  occasion  of  this  solemnity,  to  listen  to 
the  paneg}Tic  of  Christ  from  the  lips  of  the  learned  and  holy 
bishop  Eusebius. 


2  HISTORY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  ^ 

St.  Helena,  the  motlier  of  tlie  emperor,  repaired  to  Jeru- 
salem, at  a  very  advanced  a2:e,  and  caused  churches  and 
chapels  to  be  built  upon  Moimt  Tabor,  in  the  city  of 
]Srazareth,  and  in  the  greater  part  of  the  places  which  Christ 
had  sanctified  by  his  presence  and  his  miracles.  From  this 
period,  pils^rimages  to  the  Holy  Land  became  much  more 
frequent.  The  pilgrims,  no  longer  in  dread  of  the  persecu- 
tions of  the  Pagans,  could  now  give  themselves  up,  without 
fear,  to  the  fervour  of  their  devotion  ;  the  Eoman  eagles, 
ornamented  with  the  cross  of  Jesus  Christ,  protected  them 
on  their  march ;  they  everywhere  trampled  under-foot  the 
fragments  of  idols,  and  they  travelled  amidst  the  abodes  of 
their  fellow- Christians. 

TTlien  the  emperor  Jidian,  in  order  to  weaken  the  autho- 
rity of  the  prophecies,  undertook  to  rebuild  the  temple  of 
the  Jews,  numerous  were  the  prodigies  related  by  which 
God  confounded  his  designs,  and  Jerusalem,  for  that  attempt 
even,  became  more  dear  to  the  disciples  of  Jesus  Christ. 
The  Christians  did  not  cease  to  visit  Palestine.  St.  Jerome, 
who.  towards  the  end  of  the  fourth  centurv,  had  retired  to 
Eethlehem,  informs  us  in  one  of  his  letters  that  pilgrims 
arrived  in  crowds  in  Judea,  and  that  around  the  holy  tomb 
the  praises  of  the  Son  of  God  were  to  be  heard,  uttered  in 
manv  languages.  From  this  period,  pilgrimages  to  the 
Holy  Land  were  so  numerous,  that  several  doctors  and 
fathers  of  the  Church  thought  it  their  duty  to  point  out  the 
abuses  and  danger  of  the  practice.  They  told  Christians 
that  long  voyages  might  turn  them  aside  from  the  path  of 
salvation  :  that  their  God  was  not  confined  to  one  cit^' ;  that 
Jesus  Christ  was  everywhere  where  faith  and  good  works 
were  to  be  foiuid ;  but  such  was  the  blind  zeal  which  then 
drew  the  Clu"istians  towards  Jerusalem,  that  the  voice  of  the 
holy  doctors  was  scarcely  heard.*  The  counsels  of  en- 
lightened piety  were  not  able  to  abate  the  ardour  of  the 
pilgrims,  who  believed  they  should  be  wanting  in  faith  and 
zeal,  if  they  did  not  adore  Jesus  Christ  in  the  very  places 

*  See  the  letter  of  St.  Gregory  of  Xyssen,  translated  into  Latin  and 
commented  on  by  Casaubon.  St.  Augustin,  and  St.  Jerome  himself,  raised 
their  voices  against  the  abuses  of  pilgrimages.  (See  the  first  of  the 
Appendix,  in  which  is  an  abridgment  of  the  pilgrimage  of  St.  Jerome 
and  St.  Eusebius  of  Cremona.) 


niSTORT   OF   THE    CEUSADES.  3 

where,  according  to  the  expression  of  St.  Jerome,  the  light 
of  the  gospel  first  shone  from  the  top  of  the  holy  cross. 

As  soon  as  the  people  of  the  West  hecame  converted  to 
Christianity,  they  turned  their  eyes  to  the  East.  From  the 
depths  of  Gaul,  from  the  forests  of  Germany,  from  aU  the 
countries  of  Europe,  new  Christians  weve  to  be  seen  hasten- 
ing to  visit  the  cradle  of  the  faith  they  had  embraced.  An 
itinerary  for  the  use  of  pilgrims  served  them  as  a  guide 
from  th'e  banks  of  the  Ehone  and  the  Dordogne  to  the  shores 
of  the  Jordan,  and  conducted  them,  on  their  return,  from 
Jerusalem  to  the  principal  cities  of  Italy.* 

When  the  world  was  ravaged  by  the  Goths,  the  Huns, 
and  the  Vandals,  the  pilgrimages  to  the  Holy  Land  were 
not  at  all  mterrupted.  Pious  travellers  were  protected  by 
the  hospitable  virtues  of  the  barbarians,  who  began  to 
respect  the  cross  of  Christ,  and  sometimes  even  followed 
the  pilgrims  to  Jerusalem.  In  these  times  of  trouble  and 
desolation,  a  poor  pilgrim,  who  bore  his  scrip  and  staff,  often 
passed  through  fields  of  carnage,  and  travelled  without  fear 
amidst  armies  which  threatened  the  empii-es  of  the  East  and 

the  West. 

Illustrious  families  of  Kome  came  to  seek  an  asylum  at 
Jerusalem,  and  upon  the  tomb  of  Jesus  Christ.  Christians 
then  found,  on  the  banks  of  the  Jordan,  that  peace  which 
seemed  to  be  banished  from  the  rest  of  the  world.  This 
peace,  which  lasted  several  centuries,  was  not  troubled  before 
the  reign  of  Heraclius.  Under  this  reign,  the  armies  of 
Cosroes,  king  of  Persia,  mvaded  Syria,  Palestine,  and  Egypt; 
the  holy  city  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  worshippers  of  fire  ; 
the  conquerors  bore  away  into  captivity  vast  numbers  of 
Christians,  and  profaned  the  churches  of  Jesus  Christ.  All 
the  faithful  deplored  the  misfortunes  of  Jerusalem,  and  shed 
tears  when  they  learned  that  the  king  of  Persia  had  carried 
off,  among  the  spoils  of  the  vanquished,  the  cross  of  the 
Saviour,  which  had  been  preserved  in  the  church  of  the 
llesurrection. 

*  See,  in  the  Appendix  at  the  end  of  the  volume,  a  bibliographical, 
historical,  and  geographical  analysis  of  "  The  Itinerary  from  Bordeaux  to 
Jerusalem,"  by  M.  Walcknaer :  this  piece  throws  great  light  upon 
ancient  geography,  and  that  of  the  middle  ages. 

2* 


4i  niSTOHT  or  the  CErsADZS. 


• 


Heaven,  at  length,  touched  br  the  prayers  and  afflic- 
tion of  the  Christians,  blessed  the  anns  of  Heraclius.  who, 
after  ten  years  of  reverses,  triumphed  over  the  enemies  of 
Christianity  and  the  empii^e,  and  brought  back  to  Jerusa- 
lem the  Christians  whose  chains  he  had  broken.  Then  was 
to  be  seen  an  emperor  of  the  East,  walking  barefooted  in 
the  streets  of  the  holv  citv,  carrvinsr  on  his  shoulders  to  the 
summit  of  Calvary,  the  wood  of  the  true  cross,  which  he 
considered  the  most  glorious  trophy  of  his  victories.  This 
imposing  ceremony  was  a  festival  for  the  people  of  Jerusalem 
and  the  Christian  church,  which,  latter  stiQ,  every  year 
celebrates  the  memorv  of  it.*  AVhen  Heraclius  re-entered 
Constantinople,  he  was  received  as  the  liberator  of  the 
Christians,  and  the  kings  of  the  West  sent  ambassadors  to 
congratulate  him. 

But  the  joy  of  the  faithful  was  not  of  long  duration. 
Towards  the  befrinning:  of  the  seventh  centurv  there  had 
arisen,  in  an  obscure  comer  of  Asia,  a  new  religion,  opposed 
to  all  others,  which  preached  dominion  and  war.  Mahomet 
had  promised  the  conquest  of  the  world  to  his  disciples,  who 
had  issued  almost  naked  from  the  deserts  of  Arabia. 
By  his  passionate  doctrine  he  was  able  to  inflame  the 
imaofination  of  the  Arabs,  and  on  the  field  of  battle  knew  how 

o  ... 

to  inspire  them  with  his  own  impetuous  courage.  His  first 
successes,  which  must  have  greatly  exceeded  his  hopes,  were 
like  so  many  miracles,  increasing  the  confidence  of  his  par- 
tisans, and  carr^'inc:  con\"iction  to  the  minds  of  the  weak 
and  wavering.  The  political  state  ot  the  East  seemed  to 
ofier  no  obstacle  to  the  progress  of  a  sect,  which,  from  its 
birth,  showed  itself  everywhere  with  fire  and  sword.  The 
worship  of  the  Magi  was  sinking  into  contempt ;  the  Jews 
scattered  throughout  Asia  were  opposed  to  the  Sabeans,  and 
divided  amongst  themselves  ;  and  the  Christians,  under  the 
names  of  Eutychians,  Xestorians,  Maronites,  and  Jacobites, 
were  engaged  in  heaping,  reciprocally,  anathemas  upon  one 
another.  The  empire  of  Persia,  torn  by  intestine  wars,  and 
attacked  bv  the  barbarous  races  of  Tartarv,  had  lost  both 
its  power  and  splendour;  that  of  the   Greeks,  weakened 

*  This  festival  is  known  under  the  name  of  the  Exaltation  of  the  Holj 
Cross,  and  is  celebrated  on  the  14th  of  September. 


# 


niSTOEY   OF    THE    CRUSADES.  5 


both  wifhin  and  witlioiit,  was  hastening  to  its  fall ;  "  every- 
thing was  perishing  in  the  East,"  says  Bossuet.  A  new 
religion,  a  new  empire,  sprang  up  easily  in  the  midst  of  ruins. 
The  armed  doctrine  of  Mahomet  invaded,  withm  a  very 
short  period,  the  three  Arabias,  a  part  of  Syria,  and  a  large 
di\T.sion  of  Persia. 

After  the  death  of  the  Prophet  of  Mecca,  his  lieutenants 
and  the  companions  of  his  first  exploits  carried  on  his  great 
work.  The  sight  of  conquered  provinces  only  increased  the 
fanaticism  and  the  bravery  of  the  Saracens.  They  had  no 
fear  of  death  in  the  field  of  battle,  for,  according  to  the 
w^ords  of  their  prophet,  paradise,  with  all  its  voluptuous 
pleasures,  awaited  those  who  precipitated  themselves  upon 
the  enemy,  and  behind  them  hell  opened  its  abysses.  Their 
conquests  were  so  much  the  more  rapid,  from  their  uniting, 
in  their  military  and  religious  government,  the  prompt  deci- 
sion of  despotism  with  all  the  passions  that  are  met  with  in 
a  republic.  Masters  of  Persia  and  Syria,  they  soon  took 
possession  of  Eg)'pt ;  their  \dctorious  battalions  flowed  on 
into  Africa,  planted  the  standard  of  the  Prophet  upon  the 
ruins  of  Carthage,  and  carried  the  terror  of  their  arms  to 
the  shores  of  the  Atlantic.  Prom  India  to  the  Straits  of 
Cadiz,  and  from  the  Caspian  Sea  to  the  ocean,  language, 
manners,  religion,  everything  was  changed ;  what  had 
remained  of  Paganism  was  annihilated,  together  with  the 
worship  of  the  Magi ;  Christianity  scarcely  subsisted,  and 
Europe  itself  was  threatened  with  a  similar  destruction. 
Constantinople,  which  was  the  bulwark  of  the  "West,  saw 
before  its  walls  innumerable  hordes  of  Saracens :  several 
times  besieged  both  by  sea  and  land,  the  city  of  Constan- 
tino only  owed  its  safety  to  the  Greek  fire,  to  the  assistance 
of  the  Bulgarians,  and  to  the  inexperience  of  the  Arabs  in 
the  art  of  navigation. 

During  the  first  age  of  the  Hegira,  the  conquests  of  the 
Mussulmans  were  only  bounded  by  the  sea  which  separated 
them  from  Europe  ;  but  when  they  had  constructed  vessels, 
no  nation  was  safe  from  their  invasion;  they  ravaged 
the  isles  of  the  Mediterranean,  the  coasts  of  Italy  and 
Greece  ;  fortime  or  treason  made  them  masters  of  Spain, 
where  they  overturned  the  monarchy  of  the  Goths ;  they 
took  advantage  of  the  weakness  of  the  children  of  Clovis  to 


niSTOET    or    THE    CIiUSiJ)ES. 


• 


penetrate  into  the  southern  provinces  of  Gaul,  and  were 
oi^y  stopped  in  their  invasions  by  the  victories  of  Charles 
Martel. 

Amidst  the  first  conquests  of  the  Saracens,  they  had 
turned  their  eyes  towards  Jerusalem.  According  to  the 
faith  of  the  Mussulmans,  Mahomet  had  been  in  the  city  of 
Da^'id  and  Solomon;  it  was  from  Jerusalem  that  he  set 
out  to  ascend  into  heaven  in  his  nocturnal  voyage.  The 
Saracens  considered  Jerusalem  as  the  house  of  God,  as  the 
city  of  saints  and  miracles.  A  short  time  after  the  death 
of  the  Prophet,  the  soldiers  of  Omar  besieged  it.  The 
Cln-istians,  animated  by  despair,  swore  to  defend  the  city. 
The  siege  lasted  four  months,  each  day  being  marked  by 
sorties  or  attacks ;  the  Saracens  approaching  the  walls 
repeating  the  words  of  the  Koran — '•  Let  us  enter  into  the 
holy  land  which  God  has  promised  us."  After  enduring  all 
the  miseries  of  a  long  siege,  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem 
at  length  surrendered  to  the  caliph  Omar,  who  himself 
came  into  Palestine  to  receive  the  kevs  and  the  submission 
of  the  conquered  city. 

The  Christians  had  the  grief  of  seeing  the  church  of  the 
Holy  Sepulchre  profaned  by  the  presence  of  the  chief  of  the 
infidels.  The  patriarch  Sophronius,  who  accompanied  the 
cahph,  coidd  not  refrain  from  repeating  these  words  of 
Daniel, — "  The  abomination  of  desolation  is  in  the  holy 
place."  Jerusalem  was  filled  with  moui'ning,  a  gloomy 
silence  reigned  in  the  churches,  and  in  all  the  places  in 
which  the  hymns  of  the  Christians  had  so  long  resounded. 
Although  Omar  had  left  them  the  exercise  of  their  worship, 
they  were  obliged  to  conceal  their  crosses  and  their  sacred 
books.  The  bell  no  longer  summoned  the  faithful  to  prayer; 
the  pomp  of  ceremonies  was  interdicted,  and  rehgion 
appeared  but  as  a  desolate  widow.  The  caliph  ordered  a 
mosque  to  be  erected  on  the  spot  whereon  the  temple 
of  Solomon  had  been  built.  The  aspect  of  this  edifice, 
consecrated  to  the  worship  of  the  infidels,  still  further 
increased  the  affliction  of  the  Christians.  History  relates 
that  the  patriarch  Sophronius  was  imable  to  support 
the  sight  of  so  many  profanations,  and  died  in  despair, 
deploring  the  misfortunes  and  capti\'ity  of  the  holy  city. 

In  the   mean   time,   the   presence   of  Omar,   of  whose 


^  HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  7 

moderation  the  East  boasts,  restrained  the  jealous  fanaticism 
of  the  Mussulmans.  After  his  death  the  faithful  had  much 
more  to  suffer ;  they  were  driven  from  their  houses,  insulted 
in  their  churches  ;  the  tribute  which  they  liad  to  pay  to  the 
new  masters  of  Palestine  was  increased,  and  they  were  for- 
bidden to  carry  arms  or  to  mount  on  horseback.  A  leathern 
girdle,  which  they  were  never  allowed  to  be  without,  was  the 
badge  of  their  servitude ;  the  conquerors  would  not  permit 
the  Christians  to  speak  the  Arab  tongue,  sacred  to  the 
disciples  of  the  Koran ;  and  the  people  who  remained 
faithful  to  Jesus  Christ  had  not  liberty  even  to  pronounce 
the  name  of  the  patriarch  of  Jerusalem  without  the  per- 
mission of  the  Saracens. 

All  these  persecutions  could  not  stop  the  crowd  of 
Christians  who  repaired  to  Jerusalem ;  the  sight  of  the 
holy  city  sustaining  their  courage  as  it  heightened  their 
devotion.  There  were  no  evils,  no  outrages,  that  they  could 
not  support  with  resignation,  when  they  remembered  that 
Christ  had  been  loaded  with  chains,  and  had  died  upon  the 
cross  in  the  places  they  were  about  to  visit.  Among  the 
faithful  of  the  West  who  arrived  in  Asia  in  the  midst  of  the 
early  conquests  of  the  Mussulmans,  history  has  preserved 
the  names  of  St.  Arculphus  and  St.  Antoninus  of  Plaisance.* 
The  latter  had  borne  arms  with  distinction,  when  he  deter- 
mined to  follow  tlie  pilgrims  who  were  setting  out  for 
Jerusalem.  lie  traversed  Syria,  Palestine,  and  Eg}q:)t.  On 
his  arrival  on  the  banks  of  the  Jordan,  Judea  had  not  yet 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  infidels ;  but  the  fame  of  tlieir 
victories  already  filled  the  East,  and  their  armies  were 
threatening  the  holy  city.  Several  years  after  the  pilgrimage 
of  St.  Antoninus,  Arculphus,  accompanied  by  Peter,  a 
Erench  hermit,  set  out  from  the  coast  of  England  in  a  vessel 
bound  for  Syria.  He  remained  nine  months  at  Jerusalem, 
then  under  the  dominion  of  the  enemies  of  Christ.  On 
liis  return  to  Europe,  he  related  what  he  had  seen  in  Pales- 

*  The  voyage  of  St.  Antony  is  found  in  three  very  ancient  manuscripts, 
which  may  be  consulted  in  the  Imperial  Library.  It  has  been  printed 
also  in  a  small  volume  in  4to.  (See  the  Appendix.)  The  relation  of  the 
pilgrimage  of  St.  Arculphus,  arranged  by  Adaman  in  690,  was  published 
by  Gretzer  of  Ingoldstadt,  1619,  in  4to.,  under  this  title,  "  De  Locis 
Terrae  Sanctse."     It  has  since  been  published  by  Mabillon. 


# 


8  HISTOET    or    THE    CKUSADES.  g| 

tine,  and  in  all  tlie  sacred  spots  visited  by  tlie  pilgrims  of 
t]ie  West.  The  account  of  his  pilgrimage  was  drawn  up  by 
a  holv  monk  of  the  Hebrides,  for  the  information  and 
edification  of  the  faithful. 

The  Christians  of  Palestine,  however,  enjoyed  some  short 
intervals  of  security  during  the  ci^'il  wars  of  the  Mussul- 
mans.* If  they  were  not  freed  from  their  bondage,  they 
could  at  least  weep  in  peace  upon  the  tomb  of  Christ.  The 
dynasty  of  the  Ommiades,  which  had  estabhshed  the  seat  of 
the  Mussulman  empire  at  Damascus,  was  always  odious  to  the 
ever-fonnidable  party  of  the  Alides,  and  employed  itself  less 
in  persecuting  the  Christians  than  in  preserving  its  own 
precarious  power.  Merwan  II.,  the  last  caliph  of  this 
house,  was  the  most  cruel  towards  the  disciples  of  Christ ; 
and  when  he,  with  all  his  family,  sunk  under  the  power 
of  his  enemies,  the  Christians  and  the  infidels  united  in 
thanks  to  heaven  for  ha'V'ing  delivered  the  East  from  his 
tyi'anny. 

The  Abassides,  established  in  the  city  of  Bagdad,  which 
they  had  founded,  persecuted  and  tolerated  the  Christians 
by  turns.  The  Christians,  always  livino:  between  the  fear 
of  persecution  and  the  hope  of  a  transient  security,  saw  at 
last  the  prospect  of  happier  days  dawn  upon  them  with  the 
reign  of  Haroun  al  Easchid,  the  greatest  caliph  of  the  race 
of  Abbas.  Under  tbis  reign  the  glory  of  Charlemagne, 
which  had  reached  Asia,  protected  the  churches  of  the  East.f 
His  pious  liberality  relieved  tlie  indigence  of  the  Christians 
of  Alexandria,  of  Carthage,  and  Jerusalem.  The  two  greatest 
princes  of  then'  age  testified  their  mutual  esteem  by  frequent 
embassies  :  they  gent  each  other  magnificent  presents  ;  and, 
in  the  friendly  intercourse  of  two  powerful  monarchs,  the 
East  and  the  AYest  exchanged  the  richest  productions  of 
their  soil  and  their  industry.  The  presents  of  Haroiui 
created  a  lively  surprise  in  the  court  of  Charlemagne,  and 

*  Litcida  plerumqve  recepit  intervalla. — ^^^'illiam  of  Tyre. 

t  A  capitulary  of  Charlemagne,  of  the  year  810,  is  conceived  in  these 
terms  :  "  De  eleemosyna  mittenda  ad  Hyerusalem  propter  ecclesias  Dei 
restaurandas."  Ob  hoc  maaime  (says  Eginard)  iransmarinorum  regum 
amiciiias  expetens,  ut  Christianis  sub  eorum  dominatu  degentibus 
refugerium  aliquod  ac  relevatio proteniret. — Vita  Caroli  Magni,  cap.  27, 
p.  101,  edit,  of  Bredow,  12mo.  Helmstadt,  1806. 


HISTOEY   OE   THE    CRUSADES.  9 

gave  a  high  idea  of  the  arts  and  riches  of  Asia.  The 
monarch  of  the  Franks  took  pleasure  in  showing  to  the 
envoys  of  the  caliph  the  magnilicence  of  the  religious  cere- 
monies of  the  Christians.  Witnesses,  at  Aix-la-Chapelle,  of 
several  processions,  in  which  the  clergy  had  exhibited  all 
their  most  precious  ornaments,  the  ambassadors,  on  their 
return  to  Bagdad,  reported  that  they  had  seen  men  of  gold. 

There  was  no  doubt  policy  in  the  marks  of  esteem  which 
Haroun  lavished  upon  the  most  powerful  of  the  princes  of 
the  West.  He  was  making  war  against  the  emperors  of 
Constantinople,  and  might  justly  fear  that  they  would 
interest  the  bravest  among  Christian  people  in  their  cause. 
The  popidar  traditions  of  Byzantium  foretold  that  the  Latins 
would  some  day  be  the  liberators  of  Greece  ;  and  in  one  of 
the  first  sieges  of  Constantinople  by  the  Saracens,  the 
report  only  of  the  arrival  of  the  Franks  had  re-animated 
the  courage  of  the  besieged,  and  carried  terror  into  the 
ranks  of  the  Mussulmans.  In  the  time  of  Haroun,  the 
name  of  Jerusalem  already  exercised  so  powerful  an  influence 
over  the  Christians  of  the  West,  that  it  was  sufficient  to 
rouse  their  warlike  enthusiasm,  and  raise  armies  to  serve 
against  the  infidels.  To  talvc  from  the  Franks  every  pretext 
for  a  religious  war,  which  might  make  them  embrace  the 
cause  of  the  Grreeks,  and  draw  them  into  Asia,  the  caliph 
neglected  no  opportunity  of  obtaining  the  friendship  of 
Charlemagne  ;  and  caused  the  keys  of  the  holy  city  and  of 
the  holy  sepulchre*  to  be  presented  to  him.  This  homage, 
rendered  to  the  greatest  of  the  Christian  monarchs,  was  cele- 
brated with  enthusiasm  in  contemporary  legends,  which 
afterwards  caused  it  to  be  believed  that  this  prince  had  made 
the  voyage  and  completed  the  conquest  of  Jerusalem.f 

Haroun  treated  the  Christians  of  the  Latin  Church  as  his 
own  subjects ;  and  the  children  of  the  cahph  imitated  his 
moderation.  Under  their  sway,  Bagdad  was  the  abode  of 
the  sciences  and  the  arts.  The  caliph  Almamon,  says  an 
Arabian  historian,  was  not  ignorant  that  they  who  labour 

*  Claves  sepiilcri  Domini,  claves  etiam  civitatis  et  moniis  cum  vexillo 
detulerunt. — William  of  Tyre. 

f  A  relation  of  this  pretended  voyage  may  be  found  in  the  old 
chronicles.  Sanuti  and  Robert  Gaguin  have  mentioned  it,  without  doubt 
from  traditions  existing  in  their  time. 


10  niSTOET    OF    THE    CEUSADE3. 

m  tlie  advancement  of  reason  are  the  elect  of  God.  Intel- 
ligence polished  the  manners  of  the  chiefs  of  Islamism,  and 
inspired  them  with  a  toleration  till  that  time  unknown  to 
Mussulmans,  ^"hilst  the  Arabians  of  .Ifrica  were  pursuing 
their  conquests  towards  the  West,  ^Yhilst  they  took  posses- 
sion of  Sicily,  and  Eome  itself  saw  its  subui'bs  and  its 
churches  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  invaded  and  pillaged  by 
infidels,  the  servants  of  Jesus  Christ  prayed  in  peace  within 
the  walls  of  Jerusalem.*  The  pilgrims  of  the  West,  who 
arrived  there  without  danger,  were  received  in  an  hospital, 
the  foundation  of  which  -was  attributed  to  Charlemagne. 
According  to  the  report  of  the  monli  Bemard,t  who  himself 
performed  the  pilgrimage  to  the  Holy  Land,  about  the 
middle  of  the  ninth  centun',  the  hospital  for  the  pilgrims  of 
the  Latin  Church  was  composed  of  twelve  houses  or  hos- 
telries.  To  this  pious  establishment  were  attached  fields, 
vineyards,  and  a  garden,  situated  in  the  Valley  of  Jehoshaphat. 
This  hospital,  like  those  which  the  emperor  of  the  West 
founded  in  the  north  of  Europe,  had  a  library  always  open 
to  Christians  and  travellers.  From  the  tenth  century  there 
existed  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Fountain  of  Siloe,  a 
cemetery,  in  -^hich  were  interred  the  pilgrims  who  died  at 
Jerusalem.  Among  the  tombs  of  the  faithful  dwelt  the 
servants  of  God.  This  place,  says  the  relation  of  St. 
Antoninus,  covered  with  fruit-trees,  dotted  -with  sepulchres 
and  humble  cells,  brings  together  the  dead  and  the  liA-ing, 
and  presents  at  once  a  cheerfid  and  a  melancholy  picture. 


*  At  the  commencement  of  the  ninth  century,  pilgrims  flocked  thither 
quite  from  the  extremities  of  Europe.  Dicuil,  who  wrote  in  Ireland  in 
the  year  825,  gives  several  details : — Fidelis  frater. .  . .  narravit  coram 
me  ....  qnhd  odorationis  causa  in  urbe  Jerlm.  {Hierusalem)  clerici  et 
laid  a  Britannia  usque  ad  Nilum  velijicavei^nt. — Dicuil,  De  Mensura 
Orbis,  edit.  Walcknacr,  p.  17. 

t  Ibi  habetur  hospitale,  in  quo  suscij}iunfur  omnes  qui  causa  devotionis 
ilium  adeunt  locum,  lingua,  loquentes  Romand,  cui  adjacet  ecclesia  in 
honore  SanctcB  Maria;  nobilissimam  habent  bibliothecam  studio  prcedicti 
imperatoris  Caroli  Magni. — This  passage  is  taken  from  the  Voyage  of 
the  monk  Bernard  to  the  Holy  Land.  This  monk  was  a  Frenchman  by 
birth  ;  he  set  out  for  Palestine  in  870  with  two  other  monks,  one  of  whom 
was  of  the  monastery  of  St.  Innocent,  in  the  country  of  Benevento,  and 
the  other  a  Spanish  monk.  (See  an  account  of  tb.is  pilgrimage  in  the 
Appendix.) 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  11 

To  the  desire  of  visitiug  the  tomb  of  Jerusalem  was  joined 
the  earnest  ^^•ish  to  procure  relics,  which  were  then  sought 
for  \\'ith  eagerness  by  the  devotion  of  the  faithful.  All  who 
returned  from  the  East  made  it  their  glory  to  bring  back  to 
their  country  some  precious  remains  of  Christian  antiquity, 
and  above  all  the  bones  of  holy  martyrs,  which  constituted 
the  ornament  and  the  riclies  of  then*  churches,  and  upon 
which  princes  and  kings  swore  to  respect  truth  and  justice. 
The  productions  of  Asia  likewise  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  people  of  Europe.  AYe  read  in*  Gregory  of  Tours,  that 
the  wine  of  Graza  was  celebrated  in  Erance  in  the  reign  of 
Gontran  ;t  that  the  silk  and  precious  stones  of  the  East 
added  to  the  splendour  of  the  dresses  of  the  great  and  the 
noble  ;  and  that  8t.  Eloi,  at  the  court  of  Dagobert,  did  nob 
disdain  to  clothe  himself  in  the  rich  stufis  of  Asia.  Com- 
merce attracted  a  great  number  of  Europeans  to  Egypt, 
vSyria,  and  Palestine.  The  Venetians,  the  Genoese,  the 
Pisans, — the  merchants  of  Amalfi  and  Marseilles, — had  all 
stores  at  Alexandria,  in  the  maritime  cities  of  Phenicia,  and 
in  the  city  of  Jerusalem.  Before  the  church  of  St,  Marie- 
la-Latine,  says  the  monk  Bernard,  already  quoted,  extended 
a  large  place  or  square,  which  was  called  the  jMarket  of  the 
Eranks.  Every  year,  on  the  15th  of  September,  a  fair  was 
opened  on  jNlount  Cahary,  in  which  Avere  exchanged  the 
productions  of  Europe  for  those  of  the  East. 

Greek  and  Syrian  Christians  were  established  even  in  the 
city  of  Bagdad,  where  they  devoted  themselves  to  trade, 
exercised  the  art  of  medicine,  and  cidtivated  the  sciences. 
They  attained  by  their  learning  the  most  considerable  em- 
ployments, and  sometimes  even  obtained  the  command  of 

*  Alii  causa  negotiaiionis  acti,  alii  causa  devotionis  et  peregiunatioyns. 
— J.  DE  ViTRY.  Quod  Latini  devotionis  gratia  aut  negotiationis  adve- 
nientes. — Sanuti.  Non  dcfuerunt  de  occidentalibus  niulti  qui  loca 
sancia,  licet  in  hostiurn  potestate  redacta,  aut  devotionis,  aut  cotnmer- 
ciorum,  aut  utriusque  gratia,  visitarent  aliquoties. — William  of  Tyre. 
Diversarum  gentium  undique  prope  innumera  multitudo,  15  die  Sep- 
tembris  anniversario  more,  in  Hierosolymarn  conveaire  solet  ad  com- 
mercia  mutuis  conditionibus  ct  emptionibus  peragenda. — Voyage  of  St. 
Arculphus. 

f  There  is  an  excellent  dissertation,  by  M.  de  Guegnes,  upon  the  com- 
merce of  the  French  in  the  Levant  before  the  Crusades,  in  the  37th  vol. 
of  the  "  Memoires  de  rAcadeuiie  des  Inscriptions." 


12  HISTOET   OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

cities  and  tlie  goYernment  of  provinces.  One  of  the 
caliphs  of  the  race  of  Abbas*  declared  that  the  disciples  of 
Christ  were  the  most  worthy  to  be  trusted  with  the  admi- 
nistration of  Persia.  In  short,  the  Christians  of  Palestine 
and  the  Mussulman  provinces,  the  pilgrims  and  travellers 
who  returned  from  the  East,  seemed  no  longer  to  have  any 
persecutions  to  dread,  when  all  at  once  new  storms  broke 
out  in  the  East.  The  children  of  Haroun  soon  shared  the 
fate  of  the  posterity  of  Charlemagne,  and  Asia,  like  the 
"West,  was  plunged  into  the  horrors  of  anarchy  and  civil 
war. 

As  the  empire  founded  by  Mahomet  had  for  its  principle 
the  spirit  of  conquest ;  as  the  state  was  not  defended  by  any 
provident  institution ;  and  as  aU  depended  upon  the  personal 
character  of  the  prince,  it  might  easily  be  perceived  that 
symptoms  of  decay  began  to  appear  as  soon  as  there 
remained  nothing  else  to  conquer,  and  the  chiefs  ceased 
either  to  make  themselves  feared  or  to  inspire  respect.  The 
caliphs  of  Bagdad,  rendered  eifeminate  by  luxury,  and  cor- 
rupted by  long  prosperity,  abandoned  the  cares  of  empire, 
buried  themselves  in  their  seraglios,  and  appeared  to  reserv^e 
to  themselves  no  other  right  than  that  of  being  named  in 
the  public  prayers.  The  Arabians  were  no  longer  governed 
by  that  blind  zeal,  and  that  ardent  fanaticism  which  they 
had  brought  from  the  desert.  Degenerated,  like  their  chiefs, 
they  no  longer  resembled  their  warlike  ancestors,  who  woidd 
weep  at  not  having  been  present  at  a  battle.  The  authority 
of  the  caliphs  had  lost  its  true  defenders ;  and  when  des- 
potism surrounded  itself  with  slaves  purchased  on  the 
banks  of  the  Oxus,  this  foreign  militia,  called  in  to  defend 
the  throne,  only  precipitated  its  fall.  New  sectaries, 
seduced  by  the  example  of  Mahomet,  and  persuaded  that 
the  world  would  obey  those  who  should  change  its  manners 
or  opinions,  added  the  danger  of  religious  dissensions  to 
that  of  political  troubles.  In  the  midst  of  the  general  con- 
fusion, the  emirs  or  lieutenants,  of  whom  several  governed 
,  vast  kino^doms,  no  lonG:er  offered  anvthing  bevond  a  vain 
homage  to  the  successor  of  the  Prophet,  and  refused  to  send 
him  either  money  or  troops.     The  gigantic  empire  of  the 

*  Mohamed. 


{ 


niSTORT    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  13 

Abassides  crumbled  away  on  all  sides,  and  tbe  world, 
according  to  the  expression  of  an  Arabian  writer,  was 
within  the  reacli  of  him  who  would  take  possession  of  it. 
The  spii'itual  povrer  was  itself  di\ided ;  Islamism  beheld  at 
one  time  five  caliphs,  each  of  whom  assumed  the  title  of 
commander  of  the  faithful,  and  vicar  of  Mahomet. 

The  numerous  d}Tiasties  which  sprung  up  amidst  the 
troubles  of  Asia,  shared  amongst  them  the  spoils  of  tlie 
sovereigns  of  Bagdad ;  those  which  ruled  over  Persia  and 
upon  the  banks  of  the  Tigris,  under  the  pretence  of  defend- 
ing the  Mussulman  religion,  subjected  their  spiritual  chiefs 
to  the  most  humiliating  subser\dency.  At  the  same  time 
the  Eatimites,  who  pretended  to  be  descended  from  Alj, 
and  who  had  usurped  the  title  of  caliph,  raised  armies,  and 
launched  anathemas  against  the  Abassides ;  they  had  taken 
possession  of  Egj'pt,  and  they  threatened  to  invade  Syi'ia, 
and  to  march  to  Bagdad,  and  dethrone  the  ^dcars  of  the 
Prophet. 

The  Greeks  then  appeared  to  rouse  themselves  from  their 
long  supineness,  and  sought  to  take  advantage  of  the  divisions 
and  the  humiliation  of  the  Saracens.  Nicephorus  Phocas 
took  the  field  at  the  head  of  a  powerful  army,  and  recaptured 
Antioch  from  the  Mussulmans.  Already  the  people  of  Con- 
stantinople celebrated  his  triumphs,  and  styled  him  "  the 
star  of  the  East,  the  death  and  the  scourge  of  the  infidels.''^ 
He  might,  perhaps,  have  merited  these  titles,  if  the  G-reek 
clergy  had  seconded  his  efforts.  Kicephorus  was  desirous 
of  giving  to  tliis  war*  a  religious  character,  and  to  place  in  the 
rank  of  martyrs  all  who  should  fall  in  prosecuting  it.  The 
prelates  of  his  empire  condemned  his  design  as  sacrilegious, 

*  Lebeau,  in  his  "  History  of  the  Lower  Empire,"  relates,  after  con- 
temporary historians,  an  incident  which  plainly  shows  what  was  the  spirit 
of  the  Greeks  at  that  time.  "  A  small  town  of  Silicia  being  invaded  by 
the  Saracens,  the  cure  of  the  place,  named  Themal,  was  saying  mass  at 
the  time.  At  the  noise  which  he  hears  he  descends  briskly  from  the 
altar,  without  taking  off  his  pontificals,  arms  himself  with  a  hammer 
which  seived  for  a  bell  in  many  eastern  churches,  goes  straight  to  meet 
the  enemy,  wounds,  knocks  down,  crushes  all  that  he  meets,  and  puts 
the  rest  to  flight.  Although  he  had  delivered  his  tow^n  from  an  invasion 
of  the  Saracens,  the  cure  Themal  was  censured  and  suspended  by  his 
bishop.  He  was  so  ill  treated  that  he  sought  refuge  with  the  Saracens, 
and  embraced  the  religion  of  Mahomet." 


14  HISTOET    OF    THE    CKUSADES. 

and  opposed  to  him  a  canon  of  St.  Basil,  the  text  of  which 
recommended  to  him  who  had  killed  an  enemy  to  abstain 
during  three  years  from  a  participation  in  the  lioly  mys- 
teries. Deprived  of  the  powerful  sthnulus  of  fanaticism, 
Kicephorus  found  among  the  Greeks  more  paneg\Tists  than 
soldiers,  and  could  not  pursue  his  advantages  against  the 
Saracens,  to  whom,  even  in  their  declijie,  religion  prescribed 
resistance  and  promised  victory.  Hia  triumphs,  which  were 
celebrated  at  Constantinople  with  enthusiasm,  were  confined 
to  the  taking  of  Antioch,  and  only  served  to  create  a  perse- 
cution against  the  Christians  of  Palestine.  The  patriarch  of 
Jerusalem,  accused  of  keeping  up  an  understanding  with  the 
Greeks,  expired  at  the  stake,  and  several  churches  of  the 
holy  city  were  consigned  to  the  flames. 

A  Greek  army,  under  the  command  of  Temelicus,  had 
advanced  to  the  gates  of  Amida,  a  city  situated  on  the  banks 
of  the  Tigris.  This  army  was  attacked,  in  the  midst  of  a 
hurricane,  by  the  Saracens,  who  routed  it,  and  made  a  great 
number  of  prisoners.  The  Christian  soldiers  who  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  infidels,  heard,  in  the  prisons  of  Bagdad, 
of  the  death  of  iNicephorus ;  and  as  Zimisces,  his  successor, 
gave  no  attention  to  their  deliverance,  their  chief  -wTote  to 
him  in  these  terms  : — "  You  who  leave  us  to  perish  in  an 
accursed  land,  and  who  do  not  deem  us  worthy  to  be  buried, 
according  to  Christian  usages,  in  the  tombs  of  our  fathers, 
we  cannot  recognize  you  as  the  legitimate  chief  of  the  holy 
Greek  empire.  If  you  do  not  avenge  those  who  fell  before 
Amida,  and  those  who  now  sigh  in  foreign  lands,  God  will 
demand  a  strict  accoimt  of  them  of  you,  at  the  terrible  day 
of  judgment."  AVhen  Zimisces  received  this  letter  at  Con- 
stantinople, says  an  Armenian  historian,*  he  was  penetrated 
with  grief,  and  resolved  to  avenge  the  outrage  inflicted  upon 
religion  and  the  empire.     On  all  sides  preparations  were  set 

*  We  owe  a  great  portion  of  thf^se  details  to  an  ancient  Armenian 
manuscript,  composed  in  the  twelfth  century  by  Matthew  of  Edessa, 
several  fragments  of  which  have  been  translated  into  French  by  Messrs. 
ISIartin  and  Chahan  de  Cirbier.  These  fragments  were  printed  under  the 
title,  "  Historical  Details  of  the  First  Expedition  of  the  Christians  into 
Palestine,  under  the  Emperor  Zimisces."  In  the  Appendix  of  thb» 
history  is  an  interesting  letter  from  Zimisces  to  the  king  of  Armenia. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  15 

on  foot  for  a  fresh  war  against  the  Saracens.  The  nations 
of  the  AVest  werel  no  strangers  to  this  enterprize,  which 
preceded,  by  more  than  a  year,  the  first  of  the  Crusades. 
Venice,  which  then  enjoyed  the  commerce  of  the  East, 
forbade  her  people,  imcler  pain  of  death,  to  convey  to  the 
Mussuhnans  of  Africa  and  Asia,  either  iron,  wood,  or  any 
species  of  arms.  The  Christians  of  Syria  and  several 
Armenian  princes  repaired  to  the  standard  of  Zijnisces,  who 
took  the  liekl,  and  carried  war  into  the  territories  of  the 
Saracens.  So  great  was  the  confusion  which  then  prevailed 
among  the  Mussulman  powers,  and  with  such  rapidity  did  one 
dynasty  succeed  to  another,  that  history  can  scarcely  distin- 
guish what  prince,*  or  what  people  ruled  over  Palestine 
and  Jerusalem.  After  having  defeated  the  Mussulmans  on 
the  banks  of  the  Tigris,  and  forced  the  caliph  of  Bagdad  to 
pay  a  tribute  to  the  successors  of  Constantino,  Zimisces 
penetrated,  almost  without  resistance,  into  Judea,  took  pos- 
session of  Cesarea,  of  Ptolemais,  of  Tiberias,  Nazareth,  and 
several  other  cities  of  the  Holy  Land.  He  was  encamped 
upon  Tabor  when  he  received  a  deputation  of  the  inhabitants 
of  E,amala  and  Jerusalem,  who  promised  him  obedience,  and 
required  of  him  troops  to  defend  their  cities.  Zimisces 
received  their  submission  and  their  request  favourably,t  and 
pursued  the  wreck  of  the  Saracen  army,  which  had  sought 
refuge  in  some  cities  of  Phenicia  and  in  the  mountains  of 
Libanus. 

After  this  first  campaign,  the  Holy  Land  appeared  to  be 
on  the  eve  of  being  delivered  entirely  from  the  yoke  of  the 
infidels,  when  the  emperor  died  poisoned.     His  death  at 

*  The  second  memoir  of  the  Xhh6  Guenee  upon  Palestine  may  he  read 
here.  This  estimable  scholar  speaks  of  the  different  dynasties  which,  at 
this  period,  had  by  turns  conquered  Jerusalem.  We  have  felt  that  all 
these  details,  though  quite  in  their  place  in  a  memoir,  would  only  inter- 
rupt the  course  of  our  narration,  without  furnishing  the  reader  with  any 
useful  information. 

t  Whilst  reading  the  letter  of  Zimisces,  which  gives  an  account  of 
these  events,  we  feel  astonished  that  he  does  not  show  more  eagerness  to 
see  Jerusalem  ;  but  such  was  the  character  of  the  Greeks,  that  they  set 
more  value  on  the  acquisition  of  relics,  which  were  borne  in  triumph  to 
Constantinople,  than  in  delivering  the  holy  city  and  the  tomb  of  Christ. 
It  is  thence  apparent  that  this  expedition  was  not  at  all  directed  by  the 
same  spirit  as  the  crusades. 


16  HISTOST   or   THE   CEUSADES. 

once  put  a  stop  to  the  execution  of  an  enterprize  of  which 
he  was  the  soul  and  the  leader.  The  Christian  nations  had 
scarcely  time  to  rejoice  at  the  delivery  of  Jerusalem,  when 
they  learnt  that  the  holy  city  had  again  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  the  Fatimite  caliphs,  who,  after  the  death  of  Zimisces, 
had  invaded  Syria  and  Palestine. 

The  caliphs  of  Cairo,  who  had  taken  advantage  of  the 
transient  conquests  of  the  Greeks  to  extend  their  empire, 
at  first  treated  the  Christians  as  allies  and  auxiliaries.  In 
the  hope  of  enricliing  their  new  dominions  and  repairing 
the  e"vils  of  war,  they  favoured  the  commerce  of  the  Euro- 
peans,  and  tolerated  the  devotion  of  pilgrimages  to  the  Holy 
Land.  The  markets  of  the  Franks  were  re-established  in 
the  city  of  Jerusalem ;  the  Christians  rebuilt  the  hospitals 
of  the  pilgrims,  and  the  churches  which  were  falling  to 
decay.  They  began  to  forget  the  peaceful  domination  of 
the  Abassides,  and  felicitated  themselves  upon  liAing  under 
the  laws  of  the  sovereigns  of  Cairo  ;  and  still  greater  right 
had  they  to  hope  that  all  their  troubles  were  about  to  be  at 
an  end,  when  they  saw  the  caliph  Hakim,  whose  mother 
was  a  Christian,  ascend  the  throne.  But  God,  who,  according 
to  the  expression  of  conteniporan**  authors,  wished  to  try 
the  virtues  of  the  faithful,  did  not  long  delay  to  confound 
their  hopes  and  raise  new  persecutions  against  them. 

Hakim,  the  third  of  the  Fatimite  caliphs,  signalized  his 
reign  by  all  the  excesses  of  fanaticism  and  outrage.  Unfixed 
in.  his  own  projects,  and  wavering  between  two  religions, 
he  by  turns  protected  and  persecuted  Christianity.  He 
respected  neither  the  policy  of  his  predecessors  nor  the  laws 
which  he  himself  had  established.  He  changed,  on  the 
morrow,  that  which  he  had  ordained  the  preceding  day,  and 
spread  disorder  and  confusion  throughout  his  dominions. 
In  the  extravagance  of  his  mind  and  the  intoxication  of 
power,  he  carried  his  madness  so  far  as  to  believe  himself  a 
god.  Tlie  terror  which  he  inspired  procured  him  worship- 
pers, and  altars  were  raised  to  him  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Fostat,  which  he  had  given  up  to  the  flames.  Sixteen 
thousand  of  his  subjects  prostrated  themselves  before  him, 
and  adored  him  as  sovereign  of  the  living  and  the  dead. 

Hakim  despised  Mahomet,  but  the  Mussulmans  were  too 
numerous  in  his  states  to  allow  him  to  think  of  persecuting 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  17 

tliem.  The  god  trembled  for  the  authority  of  the  prince, 
and  allowed  all  his  anger  to  fall  upon  the  Christians,  whom 
he  gave  up  to  the  fury  of  their  enemies.  The  places  which 
the  Christians  held  in  the  administration,  and  the  abuses  in- 
troduced into  the  mode  of  levying  the  imposts,  with  which 
duty  they  were  charged,  had  drawn  upon  them  the  hatred 
of  all  the  Mussulmans.  "When  the  caliph  Hakim  had  once 
given  the  signal  for  persecution,  he  found  himself  at  no  loss 
for  executioners.  At  first,  they  who  had  abused  their  power 
were  the  objects  of  pursuit ;  the  Christian  religion  became 
the  next  crime,  and  the  most  pious  among  the  faithful  were 
deemed  the  most  guilty.  The  blood  of  the  Christians  flowed 
in  all  the  cities  of  Egypt  and  Syria,  their  courage  in  the 
midst  of  torments  only  adding  to  the  hatred  of  their  per- 
secutors. The  complaints  which  escaped  them  in  their 
sufferings,  the  prayers,  even,  which  they  addressed  to  Jesus 
Christ  to  put  an  end  to  their  e^dls,  were  considered  as  a 
revolt,  and  piuiished  as  the  most  guilty  treasons. 

It  is  probable  that  motives  of  policy  joined  with  those  of 
fonaticism  in  the  persecution  of  the  Christians.  Gerbert, 
archbishop  of  Eavenna,  who  had  become  pope,  under  the 
name  of  Sylvester  II.,  had  witnessed  the  ills  to  which  the 
faithful  were  subjected  in  their  pilgrimages  to  Jerusalem. 
On  his  return  he  excited  the  nations  of  the  West  to  take 
up  arms  against  the  Saracens.  In  his  exhortations,  he  made 
Jerusalem  herself  speak,  made  her  deplore  her  misfortunes, 
and  conjure  her  Christian  children  to  hasten  and  break  her 
chains.  The  people  were  deeply  moved  with  the  complaints 
and  groans  of  Sion.  The  Pisans,  the  Grenoese,  with  Boson, 
king  of  Aries,  undertook  a  maritime  expedition  against 
the  Saracens,  and  made  an  incursion  upon  the  coasts  of 
Syria.  These  hostilities,  and  the  number  of  the  pilgrims, 
which  increased  every  da)",  might  well  create  distrust  in  the 
masters  of  the  East.  The  Saracens,  alarmed  by  sinister 
predictions,  and  b}^  the  imprudent  menaces  of  the  Cliristians, 
saw  nothing  but  enemies  in  the  disciples  of  Christ ;  from 
that  time  terror  and  death  guarded  the  gates  of  Jerusalem. 

It  is  impossible,  says  William  of  T}Te,  to  describe  all  the 
species  of  persecutions  to  which  the  Christians  were  then 
exposed.  Among  the  instances  of  barbarity  cited  by  the 
historians,  there  is  one  which  gave  to  Tasso  the  idea  of  his 


18  HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

affecting  episode  of  Olindus  and  Sophronia.     One  of  tlie 
bitterest  enemies  of  the  Christians,  in  order  to  increase  the 
hatred  of  their  persecutors,  threw,  in  the  night,  a  dead  dog 
into  one  of  the  principal  mosques  of  the  city.     The  first 
who  repaired  thither  to  morning  prayer  were  seized  with 
horror  at  the  sight  of  this  profanation,  and  proclaimed  their 
anger  aloud.    Threatening  clamours  soon  resounded  in  every 
part  of  the  city ;  the  crowd  assembled  in  a  state  of  tumul- 
tuous excitement  around  the  mosque ;  the  Christians  were 
at  once  accused  of  this  act  of  sacrilege,  and  all  swore  to 
wash  out  the  outrage  to  their  prophet  in  the  blood  of  the 
perpetrators.     All  Christians  were  about  to  be  immolated 
to  the  revenge  of  the  Mussulmans,  and  already  were  they 
prepared  for  death,  when  a  yoimg  man,  whose  name  history 
has  not  presen-ed,  presented  himself  in  the  midst  of  them. 
"  The   greatest  misfortune   that   could   happen,"    said   he, 
"  would  be  that   the  church  of  Jerusalem  should  perish. 
"Wlien  a  people  is  threatened  with  destruction,  it  is  just  that 
a  single  man  should  sacrifice  himself  for  the  salvation  of 
all;    I  here  and  now  offer  myself  as  a  \-ictira  to  die  for 
you ;   to   you    I  leave  the  charge  of  doing  justice  to  my 
memory,  and  I  recommend  myself  to  your  prayers."     After 
pronouncing  these  words,  which  dissolved  the  assembly  in 
tears,  he  quitted  them,  and  repaired  to  the  chiefs  of  the 
Mussulmans  ;  he  declared  himself  alone  to  be  the  author  of 
the  crime  imputed  to   the   Christians,  and  invoked  upon 
himself  the  death  with  which  his  brethren  were  menaced. 
The  Mussubnans,  without  being  in  the  least  touched  by  his 
generous  devotion,  were  satisfied  with  the  \'ictim  who  offered 
himself  to  their  vengeance :  the  sword  was  no  longer  sus- 
pended over  the  heads  of  the  Christians,  and  he  who  had 
immolated  himself  for  their  safety,  went,  according  to  the 
expression  of  AVilliam  of  Tyre,*  to  receive  in  heaven  the 
reward  reserved  for  those  whose  mmds  burn  with  a  love  of 
perfect  charity. 

*  Et  ita  pro  fratribus  animamponens,  cumpietate  dormitionem  accepit 
optimam,  habens  positayn  gratiam. — William  of  Tyre.  The  translator 
of  the  Latin  historian  Du  Preau  thus  renders  the  thought  of  the  original  : 
— "  Thus,  giving  up  his  life  for  his  brothers,  exchanged  the  misery  of  this 
world  for  a  happy  eternal  repose,  and  received  the  high  reward  prepared 
for  all  lovers  of  perfect  charity." 


niSTOEY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  19 

Nevertlieless,  otlier  misfortunes  awaited  the  Christians  of 
Palestine ;  all  religious  ceremonies  were  interdicted ;  the 
greater  part  of  the  churches  were  converted  into  stables ; 
that  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  was  completely  destroyed.  The 
Christians,  driven  from  Jerusalem,  were  scattered  throughout 
the  countries  of  the  East.  Old  historians  relate,  that  the 
world  took  part  in  the  mourning  of  the  holy  city,  and  was 
seized  with  trouble  and  consternation.  AYinter,  with  its 
frosts  and  storms,  showed  itself  in  regions  where,  till  that 
time,  it  had  been  unknown.  The  Bosphorus  and  the  Nile 
bore  sheets  of  ice  upon  their  bosoms.  Earthquakes  were 
felt  in  S}Tia  and  Asia  IMinor ;  and  their  shocks,  which  were 
repeated  during  two  months,  destroyed  several  large  cities. 
"When  the  account  of  the  desti'uction  of  the  holy  places 
arrived  in  the  AYest,  it  drew  tears  from  all  true  Christians. 
"We  read  in  the  chronicle  of  the  monli  Grlaber,  that  Europe 
had  likewise  been  presented  with  signs  which  foreboded 
great  calamities  :  a  shower  of  stones  had  fallen  in  Burgundy, 
and  a  comet  and  threatening  meteors  had  appeared  in  the 
heavens.  The  airitation  was  extreme  amono:  all  Christian 
nations ;  nevertheless,  they  did  not  take  up  arms  against  the 
Mussulmans,  but  the  whole  of  their  vengeance  fell  upon 
the  Jews,  whom  all  Europe  accused  of  having  provoked  the 
fury  of  the  infidels. 

The  calamities  of  the  holy  city  rendered  it  still  more 
venerable  in  the  eyes  of  the  faithful ;  persecution  redoubled 
the  pious  delirium  of  those  who  went  into  Asia  to  contem- 
plate a  city  covered  with  ruins,  and  to  behold  an  empty 
sepulchre.  It  was  in  Jerusalem,  filled  with  mourning,  that 
God  most  manifestly  distributed  his  blessings  and  delighted 
to  point  out  his  will.  Impostors  constantly  took  advantage 
of  this  opinion  of  the  Christian  people,  to  mislead  the  cre- 
dulity of  the  multitude.  To  gain  credit  for  their  words,  it 
was  quite  sufficient  to  exhibit  letters  which,  they  said,  had 
fallen  from  heaven  into  Jerusalem.  At  this  period,  a  pre- 
diction, which  announced*  the  end  of  the  world  and  the 
approaching  coming  of  Jesus   Christ  into  Palestine,  very 

*  It  was  pretended  that  the  thousand  years  of  which  the  Scripture 
speaks,  were  about  to  be  accomplished,  and  that  the  end  of  the  world 
was  approaching.  In  an  act  of  donation  made  by  St.  Geraud,  Baron 
d'Aurillac,  are  these  words,  "  Approjnnquante  mundi  termino.'* 

Vol.  I.— 3 


20  HISTORY    OF    THE    CETJSADES. 

mucli  increased  tlie  veneratioii  of  tlie  people  for  the  holy 
places.  The  Christians  of  the  AVest  arrived  in  crowds  at 
Jerusalem,  with  the  design  of  d}'ing  there,  or  there  awaiting 
the  coming  of  the  sovereign  judge.  The  monk  Grlaber 
informs  us,  that  the  affluence  'of  pilgrims  surpassed  all 
that  could  be  expected  from  the  devotion  of  these  remote 
times.  Eirst  were  seen  on  the  holy  march  the  poor  and  the 
lower  classes,  then  counts,  barons,  and  princes,  all  reckoning 
as  nothing  the  grandeurs  of  the  earth. 

The  inconstancy  of  Hakim  had,  in  a  degree,  mitigated  the 
misfortunes  of  Jerusalem,  and  he  had  just  granted  liberty  to 
the  Christians  to  rebuild  their  churches,  when  he  died  by 
the  hand  of  the  assassin.  His  successor,  guided  by  a  wiser 
policy,  tolerated  both  pilgrimages  and  the  exercise  of  the 
Christian  religion.  The  chrn-ch  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  was 
not  entirely  rebuilt  till  thu^ty  years  after  its  destruction ; 
but  the  spectacle  of  its  ruins  still  inflamed  the  zeal  and  the 
devotion  of  the  Christians, 

In  the  eleventh  century  the  Latin  Church  allowed  pil- 
grimages to  suffice  instead  of  canonical  penitences ;  sinners 
were  condemned  to  quit  their  country'  for  a  time,  and  to  lead 
a  wandering  Hfe,  after  the  example  of  Cain.  This  mode  of 
performing  penance  agreed  better  ^-ith  the  active  and  restless 
character  of  the  people  of  the  "West.  It  ought  to  be  added, 
that  the  devotion  of  pilgrimages,  whatever  may  be  the 
opinion  of  an  enlightened  philosophy,  has  been  received, 
and  even  encouraged,  in  all  religions.  It  belongs,  too,  to  a 
sentiment  natural  to  man.  If  the  sight  of  a  land  once 
inhabited  by  heroes  and  sages  awakens  in  us  touching  and 
noble  remembrances ;  if  the  soul  of  the  philosopher  finds 
itself  ajntated  at  the  sifrht  of  the  ruins  of  Palmvra,  Babvlon, 
or  Athens;  what  lively  emotions  must  not  the  Christians  have 
felt  on  beholding  places  which  God  had  sanctified  by  his 
presence  and  his  blessings  ? 

The  Christians  of  the  "West,  almost  all  unhappy  in  their 
own  coimtries,  and  who  often  lost  the  sense  of  their  evils  in 
long  voyages,  appeared  to  be  only  employed  in  seeking  upon 
earth  the  traces  of  a  consoling  and  helpful  di^inity,  or  of 
some  holy  personage.  There  existed  no  province  without 
its  mart}T  or  its  apostle,  whose  support  they  went  to 
implore ;  there  was  no  citj^  or  secluded  spot  which  did  not 


HISTOET    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  21 

preserve  tlie  tradition  of  a  miracle,  or  had  not  a  eliapel  open 
to  pilgrims.  The  most  guilty  of  sinners,  or  the  most  ferve;it 
of  the  faithful,  exposed  themselves  to  the  greatest  perils, 
and  repaired  to  the  most  distant  places.  Sometimes  they 
directed  their  steps  to  Apulia  and  Calabria,  they  visited 
Mount  Gargan,  celebrated  by  the  apparition  of  St.  Michael, 
or  Mount  Cassin,  rendered  famous  by  the  miracles  of  St. 
Benedict ;  sometimes  they  traversed  the  Pyrenees,  and,  in  a 
country  given  up  to  the  Saracens,  esteemed  themselves  happy 
in  praying  before  the  relics  of  St.  Jago,  the  patron  saint  of 
Gralicia.  Some,  like  King  E-obert,  went  to  Rome,  and 
prostrated  themselves  on  the  tombs  of  the  apostles  St,  Peter 
and  St.  Paul ;  others  travelled  as  far  as  Egypt,  where  Christ 
had  passed  his  infancy,  and  penetrated  to  the  solitudes  of 
Scete  and  Memphis,  inhabited  by  the  disciples  of  Anthony 
.and  Paul. 

A  great  number  of  pilgrims  undertook  the  voyage  to 
Palestine ;  they  entered  Jerusalem  by  the  gate  of  Ephraim, 
where  they  paid  a  tribute  to  the  Saracens.  After  having 
prepared  themselves  by  fasting  and  prayer,  they  presented 
themselves  in  the  church  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  covered 
with  a  funeral  cloth  or  robe,  which  they  preserv^ed  with  care 
during  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  and  in  which  they  were 
buried  after  their  death.  They  viewed  with  holy  respect 
Mount  Sion,  the  Mount  of  Olives,  and  the  Valley  of  Jehosha- 
phat ;  they  quitted  Jerusalem  to  visit  Bethlehem,  where  the 
Saviour  of  the  world  was  born ;  INIount  Tabor,  rendered 
sacred  by  the  transfiguration ;  and  all  the  places  memorable 
for  his  miracles.  The  pilgrims  next  bathed  in  the  waters  of 
the  Jordan,*  and  gathered  in  the  territory  of  Jericho  palms 
which  they  bore  back  as  e^adences  and  relics  to  the  West. 

Such  were  the  devotion  and  spirit  of  the  tenth  and 
eleventh  centuries,  that  the  greater  part  of  the  Christians 
would  have  thought  themselves  wanting  in  the  duties  of 
religion  if  they  had  not  performed  some  pilgrimage.  He 
who  had  escaped  from  a  danger,  or  triumphed  over  his 
enemies,  assumed  the  pilgrim's  staif,  and  took  the  road  to 
the  holy  places ;  he  who  had  obtained  by  his  prayers  the 

*  These  and  the  following  details  have  been  drawn  from  the  accounts 
of  several 'pilgrimages,  in  Mabillon,  in  the  "  Recueil  des  Bollandistes," 
and  the  chronicles  of  the  times. 


22  HISTOET    or    THE    CSrSAJDES. 

preservation  cf  a  fotlier  or  of  a  son,  went  to  return  his 
thanks  to  heaven  far  from  his  domestic  hearth,  in  places 
rendered  holy  by  religious  traditions.  A  father  often 
devoted  his  child  iii  the  cradle  to  a  pilgrimage,  and  the 
first  duty  of  an  aflectionate  and  obedient  son,  when  past  the 
age  of  childhood,  was  to  accomplish  the  vow  of  his  parents. 
More  than  once  a  dream,  a  -vision  in  tbe  midst  of  sleep, 
imposed  upon  a  Christian  the  obligation  of  performing  a 
pilo:rimage.  Thus,  the  idea  of  these  pious  journeys  miied 
itself  up  witli  all  the  affections  of  the  heart,  and  wiih.  all 
the  prejudices  of  the  human  mind. 

Pilgrims  were  welcomed  everywhere,  and  in  return  for 
the  hospitality  they  received,  they  were  only  asked  for  their 
prayers  ;  often,  indeed,  the  only  treasure  they  carried  with 
them.  One  of  them,  desirous  to  embark  at  Alexandria  for 
Palestine,  presented  himself  with  his  scrip  and  staff  on 
board  a  ship,  and  offered  a  book  of  the  holy  Evangelists  m 
pa^Tiient  for  his  passage.  Pilgrims,  on  their  route,  had  no 
other  defence  against  the  attacks  of  the  wicked  but  the 
cross  of  Christ,  and  no  other  guides  but  those  angels  whom 
God  lias  told  "  to  watch  over  his  children,  and  to  direct  them 
in  all  their  waysy 

The  jrreatest  merit  in  the  eves  of  the  faithful,  next  to 
that  of  pilgrimage,  was  to  devote  themselves  to  the  service 
of  the  pilgrims.  Hospitals  were  built  upon  the  banks  of 
rivers,  upon  the  heights  of  mountains,  in  the  midst  of  cities, 
and  in  desert  places,  for  the  reception  of  these  travellers.  In 
the  ninth  centuiy,  the  pilgrims  who  left  Burgundy  to  repair 
to  Italy,  were  received  in  a  monastery  built  upon  Mount 
Cenis.  In  the  following  century,  two  monasteries,  in 
which  were  received  travellers  who  had  strayed  from 
their  way,  occupied  the  places  of  the  temples  of  idolatry 
on  Montes  Jovis,*  and  thence  lost  the  name  they  had 
received  from  Paganism,  and  took  that  of  their  pious 
founder,  St.  Bernard  de  Meiiton.  Christians  who  travelled 
to  Judea,  found  on  the  frontiers  of  Hungary,  and  in  the 

*  These  mountains,  called  Monts  de  Joux  (Montes  Jovis),  now  bear 
the  names  of  the  Greit  and  Little  St.  Bernard.  "When  St.  Bernard 
founded  these  two  hospitals,  the  inhabitants  of  the  Alps  were  still  idola- 
ters, and  the  Saracens  had  penetrated  into  Le  Valais,  where  they  con- 
stantly annoyed  the  march  of  the  pilgrims. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  23 

provinces  of  Asia  Minor,  a  great  number  of  asylums  raised 

by  charity. 

Christians  established  at  Jerusalem  went  to   meet   the 
pijo-rims,  and  often  exposed  themselves  to  a  thousand  dangers 
whilst  conducting  them  on  their  route.     The  holy  city  con- 
tained hospitals  for  the  reception  of  all  travellers.     In  one 
of  these  hospitals  the  women  who  performed  the  pdgrmiage 
to  Palestine,  were  received  by  religious  females  devoted  to 
the  offices  of  charity.     The  merchants  of  Amalfi,  Venice, 
and   Genoa,  the  richest  among  the  pilgrims,    and  several 
princes  of  the  West,  fuimished,  by  their  benevolence,  the 
means  of  keeping  these  houses  open  for  all  poor  travellers.* 
Every  year  monks  from  the  East  came  into  Europe  to  collect 
the  self-imposed  tribute  of  the  piety  of  the  Christians.     A 
pilgrim  was  a  privileged  being  among  the  faithful.     When 
he  had  completed  his  journey,  he  acquired  the  reputation  of 
particular  sanctity,  and  his  departure  and  his  return  were 
celebrated  by  religious  ceremonies.    ^Hien  about  to  set  out, 
a  priest  presented  to  him  his  scrip  and  staff,  together  with  a 
gown  marked  with  a  cross  ;  he  sprinkled  holy  water  over  his 
vestments,  and  accompanied  him,  at  the  head  of  a  proces- 
sion, as  far  as  the  boundaries  of  the  liext  parish.     On  his 
return  to  his  country,  the  pilgrim  gave  thanks  to  God,  and 
presented  to  the  priest  a  palm-branch,  to  be  depositedon 
the  altar  of  the  chui^ch,  as  an  evidence  of  his  imdertakmg 
being  happily  terminated. 

The  poor,  in  their  pilgrimages,  found  certain  resources 
against  misery ;  when  coming  back  to  their  country,  they 
received  abundant  alms.  Vanity  sometimes  induced  the 
rich  to  undertake  these  long  voyages,  which  made  the  monk 
Glaber  say,  that  many  Christians  went  to  Jerusalem  to  make 
themselves  admired,  and  to  be  enabled,  on  their  return,  to 
relate  the  wonders  they  had  seen.  Many  were  influenced 
by  the  love  of  idleness  and  change,  others  by  curiosity  and 
an  inclination  to  see  various  countries.  It  was  by  no  means 
rare  to  meet  with  Christians  who  had  spent  their  lives  m 
holy  pilgrimages,  and  had  visited  Jerusalem  several  times. 
Every  pilgrim  w^as  obhged  to  carr}^  with  him  a  letter  from 

*  William,  duke  of  Normandy  (917),  Richard  I.  (943),  and  Richard  II 
sent  considerable  sums  into  Syria.— See  Glabeu,  lib.  i.  cap.  4 ;  Dv 

CHENE,  vol.  iv. 


24  HISTOET    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

his  prince  or  his  bishop,  a  precaution  which  must  have  pre- 
vented many  disorders.  History'  does  not  record  a  single 
act  of  violence  committed  bv  one  of  the  travellers  who 
absolutely  covered  the  route  to  the  East.  A  Mussulman 
governor,  who  had  seen  a  vast  number  of  them  pass  to 
Emessa,  said :  "  They  have  not  left  their  homes  with  any 
bad  desiirn :  they  only  seek  to  fulfil  their  law."* 

Every  year,  at  the  period  of  the  festivals  of  Easter,  number- 
less troops  of  pilgrims  arrived  in  Jadea  to  celebrate  the 
mystery  of  the  Redemption,  and  to  behold  the  miracle  of  the 
sacred  fire,  which  a  superstitious  multitude  believed  they  saw 
descend  from  heaven  upon  the  lamps  of  the  holy  sepulchre. 
There  existed  no  crime  that  might  not  be  expiated  by  the  pil- 
grimage to  Jerusalem,  and  acts  of  devotion  at  the  tomb  of 
Christ.  We  find  in  the  "Acts  of  the  Saints,"  that,  in  the  time 
of  Lothaire,  this  opiiiion  was  established  among  the  Pranks. 
An  old  relation,  preserved  by  a  monk  of  Hedon,  informs  us 
that  a  powerful  lord  of  the  duchy  of  Brittany,  named  Frot- 
monde,  the  murderer  of  his  uncle  and  his  brother,  presented 
hunself  in  the  habit  of  a  penitent  before  the  king  of  France 
and  an  assembly  of  bishops.  The  monarch  and  the  prelates, 
as  an  expiation  for  the  blood  he  had  ylied,  caused  him  to  bo 
tightly  bound  \vith  chains  of  iron,  and  ordered  him  to  visit 
the  holy  places,  his  brow  marked  with  ashes,  and  ids  body 
clothed  in  a  winding-sheet.  Frotmonde,  accompanied  by 
his  servants  and  the  accomplices  of  his  crime,  set  out  for 
Palestine ;  after  having  for  some  time  sojourned  at  Jeru- 
salem, he  crossed  the  desert,  went  to  the  banks  of  the  Xile, 
traversed  a  part  of  Africa,  proceeded  as  far  as  Cartilage,  and 
came  back  to  Pome,  where  Pope  Benedict  111.  advised  him 
to  commence  a  new  pilgrimage,  to  complete  his  penance 
and  obtain  an  entire  remission  of  his  sins.  Frotmonde  saw 
Palestine  a  second  time,  penetrated  as  far  as  the  shores  of 
the  Ped  Sea,  remained  three  years  on  Mount  Sinai,  and 
went  mto  Armenia,  to  visit  the  mountain  on  which  tlie 
ark  of  Xoah  had  rested  after  the  deluge.  On  his  return 
to  his  country  he  was  received  as  a  saint;  he  shut  himself 

*  No7i  (/i/(Bnmt  mala,  sed  legem  eorum  adimplere  cpiitnl. — Glii.i.e- 
BARD.  The  account  of  the  pilgrimage  of  St.  Guillebard  (VillibaJdu«  ■, 
drawn  up  by  a  nun  of  Heindenheim,  at  his  relation,  is  to  be  found  in  the 
"  Acta  Sanctorum  Ord.  Sanct.  Ben."  saeculi  3,  part.  2. 


niSTOKY    OF    THE    CEUSADE3.  25 

\ip  in  the  monastery  of  Eedon,*  and  died  regretted  by  the 
eenobites  whom  he  had  edified  by  the  relation  of  his  pil- 
grimages. 

Many  years  after  the  death  of  Protmonde,  Centius, 
prefect  of  E-ome,  who  had  nsed  violence  to  the  Pope  in  the 
chnrch  of  St.  Mary  the  G-reat,  who  had  dragged  him  from 
the  altar,  and  placed  him  in  a  dungeon,  needed  nothing  more 
to  expiate  this  sacrilege  than  to  perform  the  pilgrimage  to 
the  Holy  Land.  Poulque-jSTerra,  count  of  Anjou,  charged 
with  crimes,  and  stained  with  blood,  thought  to  eftace  all  his 
cruelties  by  a  voyage  to  Jerusalem.  His  brother,  whom  he 
had  caused  to  perish  in  a  dungeon,  presented  himself 
wherever  he  went,  before  his  eyes  ;  it  appeared  to  him  that 
the  numerous  victims  sacrificed  to  his  ambition  in  unjust 
wars  issued  from  their  tombs  to  disturb  his  sleep,  and 
reproach  him  for  his  barbarity.  Pursued  everj^diere  by 
these  frightful  images,  Poulque  left  his  states,  and  repaired 
to  Palestine,  in  the  gaib  of  a  pilgi-im.  When  he  arrived  at 
Jerusalem,  he  passed  through  the  streets  of  the  holy  city 
with  a  cord  about  his  neck,  beaten  with  rods  by  his  domes- 
tics, repeating  in  a  loud  voice  these  words  :  "  Lord,  have 
pity  on  a  perjured  and  fugitive  Christian."  During  his 
abode  in  Palestme,t  he  bestowed  numerous  benefactions, 
comforted  the  miseries  of  the  pilgrims,  and  left  everywhere 
testimonials  of  his  devotion  and  charity.  He  returned  to 
his  duchy,  bringing  with  him  a  portion  of  the  true  cross,  and 

*  The  account  of  the  pilgrimage  of  Frotmonde,  drawn  up  by  an 
anonymous  monk  of  Redon,  is  inserted  in  the  "  Acta  Sanctorum  Ordin. 
Sanct.  Ben."  sseculi  4,  part.  2. 

f  The  aggregated  history  of  the  annals  and  chronicles  of  Anjou,  which 
describes  tlae  pilgrimages  of  Foulque,  relates  an  incident  which  appears 
to  deserve  to  be  known,  for  the  full  relation  of  which  we  refer  to  the 
Appendix. 

A  Latin  chronicle,  entitled  "  Gesta.  Consulum  Andegav.  Spicilegium," 
torn.  X.  p.  465,  relates  the  same  fact,  with  more  brevity  and  some  circum- 
stantial differences : — 

Dixerunt,  nuUo  modo  ad  sepulcrum  optatum  pervenire  posset  nisi 
super  illud  et  crucem  Dominicam  mingeret ;  quod  vir  prudens  licet 
invitus  annuit.  Qusesita  igitur  arietis  vesic4,  purgata  atque  mundata,  et 
Optimo  vino  repleta,  quae  etiam  apte  inter  ejus  femora  posita  est,  et 
comes  discalciatus  ad  sepulcrum  Domini  accessit,  vinumque  super  sepul- 
crum fudit,  et  sic  ad  libitum  cum  sociis  omnibus  intravit,  et  fusis  multis 
lacrymis  peroravit. 


26  HISTOET    OF    THE    CBrSADES. 

the  stono  upon  which  he  had  knelt  ^vhen  he  praj-ed  before 
the  tomb  of  Christ. 

Foidque,  on  returning  to  his  dominions,  Avas  desirous  of 
having  always  under  his  eyes  an  image  of  the  places  he  had 
visited,  and  caused  to  be  built,  near  the  castle  of  Loches,  a 
monastery  and  a  church,  which  bore  the  name  of  the  Holy 
Sepulchre.  In  the  midst  of  the  remembrances  of  his  pil- 
grimage, he  still  heard  the  voice  of  remorse,  and  set  off  a 
second  time  for  Jerusalem.  He  once  more  edified  the 
Christians  of  the  holy  city  by  the  expressions  of  his  repent- 
ance and  the  austerities  of  his  penance.  As  he  was  returning 
to  his  duchy,  in  passing  tln-ough  Italy,  he  delivered  the 
Eoman  state  from  a  brigand  who  plundered  the  towns  and 
villages,  and  made  war  upon  all  merchants  and  pilgnms. 
The  pope  praised  his  zeal  and  his  bravery,  gave  him  absolu- 
tion for  his  sins,  and  permitted  him  to  bear  about  with  him 
the  relics  of  two  l;oly  mart^Ts.  AVhen  he  left  Eome,  he 
was  conducted  in  triumph  by  the  people  and  the  clergy,  who 
proclaimed  him  their  liberator.  On  his  arrival  in  Anjou,  he 
re-established  peace  in  his  dominions,  which  had  been  in 
great  confusion  during  his  absence.  Restored  to  his  countr}-, 
his  faDiily,  and  his  subjects,  who  had  forgotten  his  cruelties ; 
reconciled  with  the  Church,  which  declared  him  its  benefactor, 
he  appeared  to  have  no  more  crimes  to  expiate,  or  wishes  to 
form  for  his  old  age  ;  but  neither  the  absolution  of  the  pope, 
nor  the  peace  of  his  states,  nor  the  blessings  of  the  people 
— notliiiig  could  calm  his  soul,  for  ever  torn  with  remorse. 
He  could  not  escape  from  the  image  of  his  brother,  which 
pursued  him  still,  and  recalled  to  his  mind  the  crimes  with 
which  he  had  stained  himself,  without  cessation  he  was 
before  him,  pale,  disfigured,  dragging  his  chains,  and  invoking 
heaven  to  take  ven2:eance  on  the  fratricide.  Foulque  resolved 
to  make  a  third  pilgrimage  to  Jerusalem ;  he  returned  into 
Palestine,  watered  anew  the  tomb  of  Christ  with  his  tears, 
and  made  the  holy  places  resound  with  his  groans.  After 
having  ^^sited  the  Holy  Laud,  and  recommended  his  soul  to 
the  prayers  of  the  anchorites  charged  to  receive  and  console 
pUgrims,  he  quitted  Jerusalem  to  return  to  his  coimtry, 
Avhich  he  was  doomed  never  to  see  again.  He  fell  sick, 
and  died  at  Metz.  His  body  was  transported  to  Loches, 
and  buried  in  the  monaster}-  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  which 


niSTOEY   OF   THE    CRUSADES.  27 

he  had  caused  to  be  built.  His  heart  was  deposited  in  a 
church  at  Metz,  where  was  shown,  for  many  ages  after  his 
death,  a  mausoleum,  which  was  called  the  tomb  of  Foulque, 
count  of  Anjou. 

At  the  same  period,  towards  the  middle  of  the  eleventh 
century,  Eobert-le-Frison,  count  of  Flanders,  and  Beren- 
ger  li.,  count  of  Barcelona,  resolved  likewise  to  expiate 
then  sins  by  the  voyage  to  the  Holy  Land.  The  latter  died 
in  Asia,  not  bemg  able  to  support  the  rigorous  penances  he 
had  imposed  upon  himself.  Kobert  came  back  to  his  domi- 
nions, where  his  pilgrimage  caused  him  to  find  grace  in  the 
eyes  of  the  clergy,  whom"  he  had  wished  to  plunder.  These 
two  princes  had  been  preceded  in  their  pilgrimage  by 
Frederick,  count  of  Verdun.*  Frederick  was  of  the  illus- 
ti-ious  familv  which  was  one  day  to  reckon  among  its  heroes 
Godfrey  de  Bouillon.  On  setting  out  for  Asia,  he  renounced 
earthly  grandeur,  and  gave  up  his  county  to  the  bishop  of 
Yerdun.  Eeturned  into  Europe,  he  resolved  to  terminate 
his  days  in  a  monastery,  and  died  prior  of  the  abbey  of  St. 
Wast,  near  Arras. 

The  weak  and  timid  sex  was  not  deterred  by  the  difficulties 
and  the  perils  of  a  long  voyage.  Helena,  born  of  a  noble 
family  of  Sweden,  quitted  her  country,  which  was  buried  in 
idolatry,  and  travelled  on  foot  into  the  East.  When,  after 
having  visited  the  lioly  places,  she  returned  to  her  country, 
she  was  sacrificed  to  the  resentment  of  her  relations  and  her 
compatriots,  and  gathered,  sa^^  an  old  legend,  the  palm  of 
martyrdom. t  A  few  of  the  faithful,  touched  vrith  her  piety, 
raisecl  a  chapel  to  her  memory  in  the  isle  of  Zealand,  near 
a  fountain,  which  is  still  called  the  Fountain  of  St.  Helena. 
The  Christians  of  the  North  for  a  long  time  went  in  pilgrimage 
to  this  island,  where  tliey  contemplated  a  grotto  which 
Helena  had  inhabited  before  her  departure  for  Jerusalem. 

Among  the  celebrated  pilgrims  of  this  age,  we  observe  the 
name  of  Eobert  II.,  duke  of  Normandy,  father  of  'Winiam 
the  Conqueror.     History  accuses  him  of  having  caused  his 

*  The  pilgrimage  of  Frederick  is  related  by  Dom  Calmet,  vol.  i.  p.  1072, 
of  the  "  Civil  History  of  Lorraine."  It  is  to  be  found  also  in  the  "  His- 
tory of  the  Bishops  of  Lorraine,"  vol.  i,  pp.  203 — 205. 

t  See  the  Life  of  St.  Helena,  in  the  seventh  volume  of  the  month  of 
July,  pp.  332,  333,  of  the  Bollandists. 

3* 


28  UISTOKT    OF    THE    CHUSADES. 

brother  Eiehard  to  be  poisoned.  Eemorse  urged  him  to 
make  the  pligi-image  to  Palestine ;  and  he  set  out  accom- 
panied by  a  great  number  of  knights  and  barons,  bearing 
the  scrip  and  staff,  walking  barefoot,  and  clothed  in  the  sack 
of  penitence.  He  attached,  he  said,  more  value  to  the  pains 
he  suffered  for  Christ's  sake  than  to  the  richest  city  of  his 
dukedom.  On  his  arrival  at  Constantinople,  he  despised 
the  luxury  and  the  presents  of  the  emperor,  and  appeared  at 
court  in  the  guise  of  the  humblest  of  the  pilgrims.  Ha\ing 
fallen  sick  in  Asia  Minor,  he  refused  the  ser^'ices  of  the 
Christians  of  his  suite,  and  caused  himself  to  be  carried  in  a 
litter  by  Saracens.  Meeting  a  pilgrim  from  Xormandv,  the 
latter  asked  him  if  he  had  any  message  that  he  could  deliver 
for  him  to  his  country.  "  Go  and  tell  my  people,"  said  the 
duke,  "  that  you  have  seen  a  Christian  prince  being  carried 
to  Paradise  by  devils."  When  he  arrived  at  Jerusalem,  he 
found  a  crowd  of  pilgrims,  who,  not  ha\-ing  the  means  of 
paying  the  tribute  to  the  inhdels,  awaited  the  arrival  of  some 
rich  lord  who  might  deign,  by  his  charity,  to  open  for  them 
the  gates  of  the  holy  city.  Robert  paid  a  piece  of  gold  for 
each  of  them,  and  followed  them  into  Jerusalem  amidst  the 
acclamations  of  the  Christians.  During  his  sojourn  here  he 
caused  himself  to  be  remarked  for  his  devotion,  and  still 
more  for  his  charity,  which  he  extended  even  to  the  infidels. 
As  he  was  returning  into  Europe,  he  died  at  Xicea,  in 
Bithvnia.  res^ardiug  onlv  the  relics  he  had  brousfht  with  him 
from  Palestine,  and  regretting  that  he  had  not  finished  his 
davs  in  the  holv  citv. 

•  •  • 

The  greatest  blessing  for  the  pilgrims,  and  that  wliich 
thev  demanded  of  Heaven  as  a  reward  for  their  labours  and 
fatigues,  was  to  die,  like  Jesus  Christ,  in  the  holy  city. 
"WTien  they  presented  themselves  before  the  holy  sepulchre, 
they  were  accustomed  to  offer  up  this  prayer : — "  Thou  who 
died  for  us,  and  wast  bimed  in  this  holy  spot,  take  pity  of 
our  misery,  and  withcbaw  us  at  once  from  this  valley  of 
tears."  History  tells  of  a  Christian,  bom  in  the  territory 
of  Autun.  who.  on  his  arrival  at  Jerusalem,  sou£:ht  death  in 
the  excess  of  his  fastings  and  mortifications.  One  dav  he 
remained  a  long  time  in  prayer  on  the  Mount  of  OKves,  with 
his  eyes  and  his  hands  raised  towards  heaven,  wliither  God 
seemed  to  call  him.     On  his  return  to  the  hospital  of  the 


niSTORT    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  29 

pilgrims,  he  cried  three  times,  "  Glory  to  thee,  oh  God  P^* 
and  died  suddenly  in  the  sight  of  his  companions,  who 
envied  him  his  fate,  and  believed  themselves  witnesses  of  a 
miracle. 

The  inclination  to  acquire  holiness  by  the  journey  to 
Jerusalem  became  at  length  so  general,  that  the  troops  of 
pilgrims  alarmed  by  their  numbers  the  countries  through 
which  they  passed,  and  although  they  came  not  as  soldiers, 
they  were  designated  "  the  armies  of  the  Lordr  In  the 
year  1054,  Litbert,  bishop  of  Cambrai,  set  out  for  the  Holy 
Land,  followed  by  more  than  three  thousand  pilgrims  from 
the  provinces  of  Picardy  and  Flanders. f  When  he  began 
his  march,  the  people  and  the  clergy  accompanied  him  three 
leagues  from  the  city,  and  mth  eyes  bathed  in  tears,  im- 
plored of  Grod  the  happy  return  of  their  bishop  and  their 
brethren.  The  pilgrims  traversed  Germany  without  en- 
countering any  enemies,  but  on  reaching  Bulgaria,  they 
found  none  but  men  who  inhabited  the  forests  and  subsisted 
upon  plunder.  Many  were  massacred  by  these  barbarous 
people,  and  some  perished  with  hunger  in  the  midst  of  the 
deserts.  Litbert  arrived  with  much  difficulty  at  Laodicea, 
embarked  with  those  who  followed  him,  and  was  cast  upon 
the  coast  of  Cj^rus  by  a  tempest.  He  had  seen  the  greater 
part  of  his  companions  perish,  and  the  remainder  were 
nearly  sinking  under  their  various  miseries.  Eeturned  to 
Laodicea,  they  learnt  that  still  greater  dangers  awaited 
them  on  the  route  to  Jerusalem.  The  bishop  of  Cambrai 
felt  his  courage  abandon  him,  and  believed  that  Grod  himself 
was  opposed  to  his  pilgrimage.  He  returned  through  a 
thousand  dangers  to  his  diocese,  where  he  built  a  church  in 
honour  of  the  holy  sepulchre,  which  he  had  never  seen. 

Ten  years  after  the  voyage  of  Litbert,  seven  thousand 
Christians,  among  whom  were  the  archbishop  of  Mayence, 
and  the  bishops  of  Spires,  Cologne,  Bamberg,  and  Utrecht, 
set  out  together  from  the  banks  of  the  Ehine,  to  repair 

*  Raoul  Glaber  bestows  great  praise  on  this  pilgrim,  named  Lethal, 
"  who,"  says  he,  "  was  not  one  of  those  who  go  to  Jerusalem  to  court 
admiration, — ut  solummodo  mirabiles  habeantur.^^ 

t  This  pilgrimage  of  Litbert,  or  Liebert,  is  described  in  his  life,  written 
by  Raoul  (Radulfus),  his  contemporary.  See  vol.  iv.  month  of  June, 
pp.  595 — 605,  of  the  BoUandists. 


30  HISTOET    OF    THE    CEUSADES, 

to  Palestine.  This  numerous  caravan,  Avliich  was  the 
forerunner  of  the  Crusades,*  crossed  Germany,  Hungary, 
Bulgaria,  and  Thrace,  and  was  welcomed  at  Constantinople 
by  the  emperor  Constantino  Ducas,  After  haAing  Aisited 
the  churches  of  Byzantium,  and  the  numerous  relics  which 
were  the  objects  of  the  veneration  of  the  Greeks,  the  pilgrims 
of  the  AVest  traversed  Asia  Minor  and  Syria  without  danger; 
but  when  they  approached  Jerusalem,  the  sight  of  their 
riches  aroused  the  cupidity  of  the  Bedouin  Arabs,  undisci- 
phned  hordes,  who  had  neither  country"  nor  settled  abode, 
and  who  had  rendered  themselves  fonnidable  in  the  civil 
wars  of  the  East.  The  Arabs  attached  the  pilgrims  of  the 
West,  and  compelled  them  to  sustain  a  siege  in  an  aban- 
doned Aillage  ;  and  tjiis  was  on  a  Good  Friday.  On  such  a 
sacred  day,  the  pilgrims  even  who  had  arms  employed  them 
with  much  hesitation  and  scruple.  Enclosed  within  the 
ruins  of  an  old  castle,  they  resisted  for  a  time,  but  on  the 
third  day  famine  compelled  them  to  capitulate.  When  they 
came  to  the  arrangement  of  the  conditions  of  the  peace, 
there  arose  a  violent  quarrel,  which  was  near  leading  to  the 
massacre  of  all  the  Christians  by  the  Arabs.  The  emir  of 
Eamala,  informed  by  some  fugitives,  came  happily  to  their 
rescue,  delivered  them  from  the  death  with  which  they  were 
threatened,  and  permitted  them  to  continue  their  journey. 
As  the  report  of  their  combats  and  their  perils  had  preceded 
them,  their  arrival  created  a  great  sensation  in  Jerusalem. 
They  were  received  in  triumph  by  the  patriarch,  and  con- 
ducted, to  the  sound  of  timbrels  and  bv  the  lio;ht  of  torches, 
to  the  church  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre.  During  their  abode 
at  Jerusalem,  the  misery  into  which  they  were  fallen  excited 
the  pity  of  the  Christians.  They  could  not  visit  the  banks 
of  the  Jordan,  or  the  places  most  renowned  in  Judea,  as 
these  were  all  now  infested  by  the  Arabs  and  exposed  to 
their  incursions.  After  haAing  lost  more  than  three  thou- 
sand of  their  companions,  they  retiu'ned  to  Europe,  to  relate 


*  Ingulfus,  a  Norman  monk,  who  Lad  accompanied  the  pilgrims  who 
left  Normandy,  has  made  the  relation  of  this  pilgrimage.  The  account  of 
Ingulfus  has  been  copied  almost  literally  by  Baironius.  An  account  of 
the  same  pilgrimage  is  likewise  to  be  found  ii;  the  chronicle  of  Marianus 
gcotus,  pp.  429,  430. 


UISTORY    OF    TILE    CilUSADES.  31 

their  tragical  adventures,  aud  the  dangers  of  a  pilgrimage  to 
the  Holy  Land.* 

New  perils  and  the  most  violent  persecutions  at  this 
period  threatened  both  the  pilgrims  of  the  West  and  the 
Christians  of  Palestine.  Asia  was  about  once  again  to  change 
masters,  and  tremble  beneath  a  fresh  tyranny.  During 
several  centuries,  the  rich  countries  of  the  East  had  been 
subject  to  contmual  invasions  from  the  wild  hordes  of  Tar- 
tary.  As  fast  as  the  victorious  tribes  became  effeminated 
by  luxury  and  prosperity,  they  were  replaced  by  others 
retaining  all  the  barbarism  of  the  deserts.  The  Turks, 
issuing  from  countries  situated  beyond  the  Oxus,  had 
rendered  themselves  masters  of  Persia,  where  the  imcal- 
culating  policy  of  Mamouh  had  received  and  encouraged 
their  wandering  tribes.  The  son  of  Mamouh  fought  a 
battle  with  them,  in  which  he  performed  prodigies  of  valour; 
"but  fortune,"  says  Feristha,  "had  declared  herself  unpro- 
pitious  to  his  arms ;  he  looked  around  during  the  fight,  and 
except  the  body  which  he  immediately  commanded,  his  whole 
army  had  devoured  the  paths  of  flight. ''  Upon  the  very 
theatre  of  their  ^-ictory  the  Turks  proceeded  to  the  election 
of  a  king.  A  large  number  of  arrows  were  collected  into  a 
bundle.  Upon  each  of  these  arrows  was  inscribed  the  name 
of  a  tribe,  of  a  family,  and  of  a  warrior.  A  child  di-ew  three 
of  the  arrows  in  the* presence  of  the  whole  army,  and  chance 
assigned  the  throne  to  Togrul-Beg,  grandson  of  Seldjouc. 
Togrul-Beg,  whose  ambition  equalled  his  coiu-age,  embraced, 
together  vath  his  soldiers,  the  faith  of  Mahomet,  and  soon 
joined  to  the  title  of  conqueror  that  of  protector  of  the 
Mussulman  religion. 

The  banks  of  the  Tigris  and  the  Euphrates  were  then 
troubled  by  the  revolt  of  the  emirs,  who  shared  the  spoils  of 
the  caliphs  of  Bagdad :  the  caliph  Cayem  implored^  the 
assistance  of  Togrul,  and  promised  the  conquest  of  Asia  to 
the  new  master  of  Persia.  Togrul,  whom  he  had  named  his 
temporal  \'icar,  marched  at  the  head  of  an  army,  dispersed 
the  factious  and  the  rebellious,  ravaged  the  pro^dnces,  and 

*  It  would  have  been  easy  for  me  to  have  spoken  of  a  great  number  of 
other  pilgrimages  undertaken  before  the  Crusades.  An  abridgment  of 
the  most  interesting  accounts  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix  at  the  end  of 
this  volume. 


32  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

entered  Bagdad,  to  prostrate  himself  at  tlie  feet  of  the 
caliph,  who  proclaimed  the  triumph  of  his  liberators  and 
theii'  sacred  claims  to  the  empire.  In  the  midst  of  an 
imposing  ceremony,  Togrul  was  successively  clothed  with 
seven  robes  of  honour ;  and  seven  slaves  bom  in  the  seven 
climates  of  Arabia  were  presented  to  him.  Two  crowns 
were  placed  upon  his  head,  and,  as  an  emblem  of  his  domi- 
nion over  the  East  and  the  AVest,  thev  girded  him  with  two 
scimitars.  This  ceremony  rendered  the  usurpation  of  the 
Turks  legitimate  in  the  eves  of  the  Mussulmans.  The 
empire  which  the  \'icar  of  ^lahomet  pointed  out  to  their 
ambition  was  speedily  conquered  by  their  arms.  Under  the 
reign  of  Alp-Arsland,  and  that  of  Malek-Scha,  the  successors 
of  Togrul,  the  seven  branches  of  the  dvnasty  of  Seldjouc 
shared  amongst  them  the  largest  kingdoms  of  Asia.  Thirty 
years  had  scarcely  passed  away  since  the  Tartars  conquered 
Persia,  and  already  their  military  and  pastoral  colonies  ex- 
tended from  the  Oxus  to  the  Euphrates,  and  from  the  Indus 
to  the  Hellespont. 

One  of  the  lieutenants  of  !Malek-Scha  carried  the  terror 
of  his  arms  to  the  banks  of  the  Nile,  and  wrested  Syria 
from  the  hands  of  the  Eatunite  caliphs.  Palestine  yielded 
to  the  power  of  the  Tui'ks,  and  the  black  flag  of  the  Abassides 
floated  triumphantly  over  the  walls  of  Jerusalem.  The  con- 
querors spared  neither  the  Christians  nor  the  children  of 
Aly,  whom  the  caliph  of  Bagdad  represented  to  be  the 
enemies  of  Grod.  The  Eg}'ptian  garrison  was  massacred, 
and  the  mosques  and  the  churches  were  delivered  up  to 
pillage.  The  holy  city  was  flooded  with  the  blood  of  Chris- 
tians and  Mussulmans. 

The  possession  of  Jerusalem  in  no  degree  arrested  the 
barbarous  fury  of  the  Turks.  As  their  empire  was  recent 
and  ill-established,  as  they  were  threatened  with  the  armies 
of  Cairo,  and  even  with  those  of  the  AVest,  their  tyranny 
became  restless,  jealous,  and  riolent.  The  Christians  trem- 
bled under  the  hardest  and  most  humiliating  subjugation ; 
they  were  despoiled  of  their  propeiirs',  and  reduced  to  the 
most  frightful  deofree  of  misen\  Thev  imderwent  much 
greater  evils  than  they  had  suflered  during  the  reign  of 
Hakim. 

A  gi'eat  number  of  those  who  had  quitted  their  families 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CEUSAHES.  33 

and  their  country  to  ^dsit  the  tomb  of  Christ,  lost  their  lives 
before  they  were  able  to  enjoy  the  felicity  of  saluting  the 
holy  city ;  and  they  who  arrived  at  Jerusalem  after  having 
escaped  a  thousand  dangers,  found  themselves  exposed  to 
the  insults  and  cruelties  of  the  new  masters  of  Judea.  The 
pilgrims  of  the  Latin  Church  who  returned  into  Europe, 
related  all  that  they  had  suffered  in  their  voyage,  and  told, 
with  groans,  of  the  outrages  committed  upon  the  religion  of 
Christ.  They  had  seen  tlie  holy  sepulchre  profaned,  and 
the  ceremonies  of  the  Christians  become  the  sport  of  the 
infidels  ;  they  had  seen  the  patriarchs  of  Jerusalem  and  the 
venerable  guardians  of  the  holy  places  dragged  from  their 
sanctuary  and  cast  ignominiously  into  dungeons.  These 
recitals,  exaggerated  by  repetition,  flew  from  mouth  to 
mouth,  and  drew  tears  from  the  eyes  of  the  faithful. 

Whilst  the  Turks,  under  the  command  of  Toutousch  and 
Ortock,  were  desolating  Syria  and  Palestine,  other  tribes  of 
that  nation,  led  by  Soliman,  nephew  of  Malek-Scha,  had 
penetrated  into  Asia  Minor.  They  took  possession  of  all 
the  pro\'inces  through  which  pilgrims  were  accustomed  to 
pass  on  their  way  to  Jerusalem.  These  countries,  in  which 
the  Christian  religion  had  first  shone  forth,  and  the  greater 
part  of  the  Greek  cities  whose  names  were  conspicuous  in 
the  annals  of  the  primitive  chm^ch,  sunk  under  the  yoke  of 
the  infidels.  The  standard  of  the  prophet  floated  over  the 
walls  of  Edessa,  Iconium,  Tarsus,  and  Antioch.  Nicea  had 
become  the  seat  of  a  Mussulman  empire,  and  the  divinity  of 
Christ  was  insulted  in  that  city  wherein  the  first  oecumenic 
council  had  declared  it  to  be  an  article  of  faith.  The 
modesty  of  the  vu'gins  had  been  sacrificed  to  the  brutal  lust 
of  the  conquerors.  Thousands  of  children  had  been  circum- 
cised.* Everywhere  the  laws  of  the  Koran  took  place  of 
those  of  the  Evangelists  and  of  Greece.  The  black  or  white 
tents  of  the  Turks  covered  the  plains  and  the  mountains  of 

*  A  picture  of  the  excesses  and  shameless  debaucheries  committed  by 
the  Turks  after  the  conquest  of  Asia  Minor,  may  be  found  in  a  letter  of 
Alexis,  quoted  by  the  Abbe  Guibert,  lib.  i.,  cap.  4  : — "  Dicit  eos  quem- 
dam  abusione  sodomitica  intervenisse  episcopum  ;  matres  correptse  in 
conspectu  filiarum  multipliciter  repetitis  diversorum  coitibus  vexabantur. 
Filiee  existentise  terminum  prcecinere  saltando  cogebantur, — mox  eadem 
passio  ad  filias,"  &c. 


S-i  mSTOEX    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

EitliYiiia  and  Cnppadocia,  and  their  flocks  pastured  among 
the  ruins  of  the  monasteries  and  churches. 

The  Greeks  had  never  had  to  contend  against  more  cruel 
and  terrible  enemies  than  the  Tiu-ks.  "Whilst  the  court  of 
Alp-Arslan  and  Malek-Scha  blazed  with  magnificence  and 
cultivated  tlie  knowledge  and  intelligence  of  the  ancient  Per- 
sians,  the  rest  of  the  people  remained  in  a  state  of  barbarism, 
and  preserved,  amidst  the  conquered  nations,  all  the  ferocious 
and  savage  manners  of  Tartarv.  The  children  of  Seldjouc 
loved  better  to  abide  under  their  tents  than  in  the  walls  of 
cities ;  they  lived  upon  the  milk  of  their  flocks,  disdaining 
both  agriculture  and  commerce,  in  the  conviction  that  war 
would  supply  all  their  wants.  For  themselves,  their  home 
was  every  region  in  which  their  arms  could  prevail  and 
their  flocks  find  rich  pastiu-es.  A\Tien  they  passed  from  one 
country  into  another,  all  the  members  of  the  same  family 
marched  together ;  thev  took  with  them  all  that  thev  loved, 
and  all  that  they  possessed.  A  constantly  wandering  life, 
and  frequent  quarrels  among  themselves  and  with  their 
neighbours,  kept  up  their  military  spirit.  Every  warrior 
carried  his  name  inscribed  upon  his  javelin,  and  swore  to 
make  it  respected  by  his  enemies.  So  eager  were  the  Turks 
for  battle,  that  it  w^as  quite  sufiicient  if  a  chief  sent  his  bow 
or  his  aiTows  among  his  tribe,  to  make  them  all  instantly 
fly  to  arms. 

The  patience  with  which  they  supported  huager,  thirst, 
and  fatigue,  rendered  them  invincible.  Xo  nation  of  the 
East  surpassed  them  in  horsemanship,  or  in  skill  with  the 
bow  ;  nothing  could  exceed  the  impetuosity  of  their  attack, 
and  they  were  at  the  same  time  redoubtable  in  flight,  and 
implacable  in  victory.  They  were  not  guided  in  their  expe- 
ditions by  a  desire  for  glory  or  a  sense  of  honour,  but  simply 
by  a  love  of  destruction  and  pillage. 

The  report  of  their  invasions  had  spread  among  the  na- 
tions of  Caucasus  and  the  Caspian  Sea,  and  new  migrations 
appeared  to  arrive  every  day  to  strengthen  their  armies.  As 
thev  were  docile  in  war,  and  turbulent  and  rebellious  in 
peace,  it  was  the  pohcy  of  their  chiefs  to  lead  them  con- 
stantly on  to  new  conquests.  Malek-Scha,  with  a  view  to 
get  rid  of  his  lieutenants  rather  than  to  reward  them,  had 
given  them  pennission  to  attempt  the  conquest  of  the  lands 


niSTOKT    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  35 

of  the  Greeks  and  Eg}^tians.  It  was  an  easy  matter  to 
raise  armies,  to  which  were  promised  the  spoils  of  the 
enemies  of  the  prophet  and  his  k^gitimate  vicar.  All  who 
had  not  shared  in  the  booty  of  preceding  wars  flocked  to 
the  standards,  and  the  wealth  of  Gfreece  soon  became  the 
prey  of  Turkish  horsemen,  who  had  but  recently  issued  from 
their  deserts  with  A\-oollen  caps  and  stirrups  of  M^ood.  Of 
all  the  hordes  subject  to  the  dynasty  of  Seldjouc,  the  troops 
that  mvaded  Syria  and  Asia  Minor  were  the  poorest,  the 
most  wild,  and  the  most  intrepid. 

In  the  depth  of  their  misery,  the  Greeks  of  the  conquered 
provinces  scarcely  dared  to  lift  their  eyes  to  the  sovereigns 
of  Byzantium,  who  had  not  had  the  courage  to  defend  tliem, 
and  therefore  left  them  no  hope  that  they  would  assist  them 
in  their  troubles.  In  the  midst  of  revolutions  and  civil 
wars,  the  Greek  empire  was  hastening  to  its  fall.  Since 
the  reign  of  Heraclius,  Constantinople  had  seen  eleven  of 
its  emperors  put  to  death  in  their  own  palace.  Six  of  these 
masters  of  the  world  had  terminated  their  days  in  the 
obscurity  of  cloisters  ;  several  had  been  mutilated,  deprived 
of  sight,  and  sent  mto  exile  ;  the  purple,  stained  and  degraded 
by  so  many  revolutions,  decorated  only  wicked  and  con- 
temptible princes,  or  men  without  character  or  virtue. 
Theu'  whole  employment  was  their  own  personal  safety; 
and  they  were  compelled  to  share  their  power  with  the 
accomplices  of  their  crimes,  of  whom  they  lived  in  a  constant 
state  of  dread.  They  frequently  sacrillced  cities  and  pro- 
vinces, to  purchase  from  their  enemies  a  few  moments  of 
security,  and  aj^peared  to  have  nothing  to  ask  of  fortune 
beyond  the  existence  of  the  empire  during  their  own  worth- 
less Hves. 

The  Greeks  still  cherished  great  names  and  great  remem- 
brances, of  which  they  were  proud,  but  which  only  served 
to  show  their  present  weakness  and  degradation.  In  the 
midst  of  the  luxury  of  Asia  and  the  monuments  of  Greece 
and  Bome,  they  were  scarcely  less  barbarous  than  other 
nations.  In  their  tlieological  disputes  they  had  lost  the 
true  spirit  of  the  Evangelists ;  among  them  everything 
was  corrupted,  even  religion.  A  universal  bigotiy,  says 
Montesquieu,  depressed  their  courage  and  paralyzed  the 
whole  empire.     They  neglected  the  dangers  of  their  coun- 


36  HISTOET    OF    THE   CEUSADES. 

try,  and  became  zealots  for  a  relic  or  for  a  sect.     In  war, 

superstition  pointed  out  to  tlie  Grreeks  lucky  and  unlucky 
davs,  in  ^Yllich  a  general  ought  or  ought  not  to  give  battle ; 
and  as  religion  inspii-ed  in  them  nothing  beyond  an  apathetic 
resio-nation  in  reverses,  they  consoled  themselves  for  the 
loss  of  provmces  by  accusing  their  inhabitants  of  heresy. 

Among  the  Greeks,  stratagem  and  perfidy  were  decorated 
•^-ith  the  name  of  policy,  and  received  the  same  encomiums 
as  valour;  they  esteemed  it  as  glorious  to  deceive  their 
enemies  as  to  conquer  tliem.  Their  soldiers  were  followed  to 
the  seat  of  war  by  light  chariots,  which  carried  their  arms;  and 
they  had  perfected  every  machine  which  could  supply  the  place 
of  courage  in  either  sieges  or  battles.  Their  armies  displayed 
great  military  pomp,  but  were  deficient  in  soldiers.  The 
onlv  thing  they  inherited  from  their  ancestors  was  a  turbu- 
lent and  seditious  spirit,  which  mixed  itself  with  their 
effeminated  manners,  and  was  sure  to  break  out  when  their 
country  was  threatened  with  danger.  Discord  unceasingly 
reigned  among  both  the  army  and  the  people ;  and  they 
continued  madly  to  dispute  the  right  to  an  empire  whose 
very  existence  was  menaced,  and  blindly  gave  up  its  defence 
to  barbarians  and  strangers.  In  short,  the  corruption  of  the 
Greeks  was  so  great,  that  they  could  neither  have  endured 
a  good  prince  nor  good  laws.  jS^icephorus  Phocas,  who  had 
formed  the  project  of  re-establishing  discipline,  died  assas- 
sinated. Zimisces  had  also  paid  with  his  life  for  his  efforts 
to  rouse  the  Greeks  from  their  pusillanimous  degradation. 
"Wlien  the  emperor  Eomanus-Diogenes  was  made  prisoner  by 
the  Tui'ks,  his  misfortunes  were  the  signal  for  a  fresh  revolt 
against  his  person.  Sent  back  ^ith  honours  by  the  sultan 
of  Persia,  he  met  with  nothing  but  executioners  in  an  empire 
he  had  endeavoured  to  defend,  and  died  with  misery  and 
despair  in  a  desert  island  of  the  Propontis. 

AVhilst  the  empne  of  the  East  approached  near  to  its  fall, 
and  appeared  sapped  by  time  and  corruption,  the  institutions 
of  the  AYest  were  in  their  infancy.  The  empire  and  the 
laws  of  Charlemagne  no  longer  existed.  Xations  had  no 
relations  with  each  other,  and  mistaking  their  political 
interests,  made  wars  without  considering  their  consequences 
or  their  dangers,  and  concluded  peace,  without  being  at  all 
aware  whether  it  was  advantageous  or  not.     Eoyal  authority 


HISTORY   or    THE    CETJSADES.  37 

was  nowliere  sufficiently  strong  to  arrest  tlie  progress  of 
anarcliy  and  the  abuses  of  feudalism.  At  the  same  time 
that  Europe  was  full  of  soldiers,  and  covered  with  strong 
castles,  the  states  themselves  were  without  support  against 
their  enemies,  and  had  not  an  army  to  defend  them.  In  the 
midst  of  general  confusion,  there  was  no  seciu'ity  but  in 
camps  and  fortresses,  by  turns  the  safeguards  and  the  terror 
of  the  towns  and  the  country.  The  largest  cities  held  out  no 
asylum  to  liberty,  and  the  life  of  man  Avas  reckoned  so  trifling 
an  object,  that  impunity  for  murder  could  be  purchased  with  a 
few  pieces  of  money.  Frequently,  to  detect  crime,  the  judges 
had  recourse  to  water,  fire,  and  iron ;  upon  the  blmd  and 
dumb  evidence  of  the  elements,  victims  were  condemned  to 
death  ;  it  was  sword  in  hand  that  justice  was  invoked  ;  it  was 
by  the  sword  that  the  reparation  of  wrongs  and  injuries  was 
to  be  obtained.  No  one  would  then  have  been  understood 
who  would  have  spoken  of  the  rights  of  nature,  or  the  rights 
of  man ;  the  language  of  the  barons  and  the  lords  comprised 
only  such  words  as  treated  of  ivar  ;  war  was  the  only  science, 
the  only  policy  of  either  princes  or  states. 

Nevertheless,  this  barbarism  of  the  nations  of  the  West  \ 
did  not  at  all  resemble  that  of  the  Turks,  whose  religion  • 
and  manners  repelled  every  species  of  civilization  or  cultiva- 
tion, nor  that  of  the  Greeks,  who  were  nothing  but  a  cor- 
rupted and  degenerated  people.  Whilst  the  one  exhibited 
all  the  vices  of  a  state  almost  savage,  and  the  other  aE  the 
corruption  of  decay  ;  something  heroical  and  generous  was 
mingled  with  the  barbarous  manners  of  the  Franks,  which 
resembled  the  passions  of  youth,  and  gave  promise  of  a 
better  future.  The  Turks  were  governed  by  a  gross  bar- 
barism, which  made  them  despise  all  that  was  noble  or  great; 
the  Greeks  were  possessed  by  a  learned  and  polished  bar- 
barism, M'hich  filled  them  with  disdain  for  heroism  or  the 
military  virtues.  The  Eranks  were  as  brave  as  the  Tin-ks, 
and  set  a  higlier  value  on  glory  tlian  any  other  people.  The 
principle  of  lionour,  which  gave  birth  to  chivalry  in  Europe, 
directed  their  bravery,  and  sometimes  assumed  the  guise  of 
justice  and  virtue. 

The  Christian  religion,  which  the  Greeks  had  reduced  to 
little  formulae  and  the  vain  practices  of  superstition,  was, 
with  them,  incapable  of  inspiring  either  great  designs  or 


38  mSTOEY    OF    THE    CEVSADES. 

noble  fhoughts.  Among  the  nations  of  tlie  "West,  as  they 
were  vet  unacquainted  with  the  di^puted  dogmas  of  Chris- 
tianity, it  had  more  empii'e  over  their  minds,  it  disposed 
their  hearts  more  to  enthusiasm,  and  formed  amongst  them, 
at  once,  both  saints  and  heroes. 

Although  rehgion  might  not  always  preach  its  doctrines 
with  success,  and  its  influence  was  subject  to  abuse,  it 
had  a  tendency  to  soften  the  manners  of  the  barbarous 
people  that  had  invaded  Europe ;  it  afforded  a  holy  au- 
thority to  the  weak ;  it  inspii^ed  a  salutary  fear  in  the 
strong,  and  frequently  corrected  the  injustice  of  human 
laws. 

In  the  midst  of  the  darkness  which  covered  Europe,  the 
Christian  rehgion  alone  preserved  the  memory  of  times  past, 
and  kept  up  some  degree  of  emulation  among  men.  It 
presented,  also,  for  happier  days,  the  language  of  the  royal 
people,  the  only  one  capable  of  expressing  the  grand  and 
noble  ideas  of  moral  virtue,  in  which  the  genius  of  legis- 
lation had  elevated  its  most  splendid  monuments.  "V^hilst 
despotism  and  anarchy  pervaded  the  cities  and  the  kingdoms 
of  the  ~W"est,  the  people  invoked  religion  against  t}Tanny, 
and  the  princes  called  in  its  aid  against  license  and  revolt. 
Often,  mid  the  troubles  of  states,  the  title  of  Christian 
inspired  more  respect,  and  awakened  more  enthusiasm  than 
did  the  name  of  citizen  in  ancient  Eome.  As  the  Christian 
religion  had  preceded  all  the  then  existing  institutions,  it  natu- 
rallv  remamed  for  a  lone:  time  surrounded  bv  the  veneration 
and  love  of  the  people.  Under  more  than  one  relation  the 
nations  appeared  to  recognise  no  other  legislators  than  the 
lathers  of  the  councils,  no  other  code  than  that  of  the  gospel 
and  the  holy  Scriptui'es.  Europe  might  be  considered  as  a 
religious  society,  wherein  the  preservation  of  the  faith  was 
the  principal  interest,  and  in  which  men  belonged  more  to 
the  church  than  to  the  countiw.  In  such  a  state  of  thincrs 
it  was  easy  to  inflame  the  minds  of  the  people,  by  showing 
them  that  the  cause  of  religion  and  of  Christians  stood  in 
need  of  defence. 

Ten  years  before  the  invasion  of  Asia  Minor  bv  the  Turks, 
Michael  Ducas,  the  successor  of  Eomanus-Diogenes,  had  im- 
plored the  assistance  of  the  pope  and  the  princes  of  the 
West.     He  had  promised  to  remove  all  the  barriers  which 


HISTOEY    OF    THE    CETJSADES.  39 

separated  the  Greek  from  the  Eoman  Chiireh,  if  the  Latins 
"would  take  up  arms  against  the  infidels.  G-regory  YII.  then 
filled  the  chair  of  St.  Peter,  and  his  talents,  his  knowledo-e, 
his  activity,  his  boldness,  together  with  the  inflexibility  of 
his  character,  rendered  him  capable  of  the  greatest  under- 
takings. The  hope  of  extending  the  religion  and  the  empire 
of  the  Holy  See  into  the  East,  made  him  receive  kindly  the 
humble  supplications  of  Michael  Ducas.  He  exhorted  the 
faitliful  to  take  up  arms  against  the  Mussulmans,  and 
engaged  to  lead  them  himself  into  Asia.  The  misfortunes 
of  the  Christians  of  the  East,  said  he,  in  his  letters,  had 
moved  him  even  to  feel  a  contempt  for  death ;  he  would 
rather  expose  his  life  to  deliver  the  holy  places,  than  live  to 
command  the  entire  imiverse.  Excited  by  his  discoui'ses, 
fi^fty  thousand  pilgrims  agreed  to  follow  Gregory  to  Con- 
stantinople, and  thence  to  Syria;  but  he  kept  not  the 
promise  he  had  made,  and  the  aflairs  of  Europe,  in  which 
the  ambition  of  the  pontiff  was  more  interested  than  in 
those  of  Asia,  suspended  the  execution  of  his  projects. 

Every  day  the  power  of  the  popes  was  augmented  by  the 
progress  of  Christianity,  and  by  the  ever-increasing  influence 
of  the  Latin  clergy.  Eome  was  become  a  second  time  the 
capital  of  the  world,  and  appeared  to  have  resumed,  under 
the  monk  Hildebrand,  the  empire  it  had  enjoyed  under  the 
Caesars.  Armed  with  the  two-edged  sword  of  Peter,  Grregor}^ 
loudly  proclaimed  that  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  were 
under  the  dominion  of  the  Holy  See,  and  that  his  authority 
ought  to  be  as  universal  as  the  chiu-ch  of  which  he  was  the 
head.  These  dangerous  pretensions,  fostered  by  the  opinions 
of  his  age,  engaged  him  immediately  in  violent  disputes  with 
the  emperor  of  Grermany.  He  desired  also  to  dictate  laws  to 
Prance,  Spain,  Sweden,  Poland,  and  England ;  and  thinking 
of  nothing  but  making  himself  acknowledged  as  the  great 
arbiter  of  states,  he  launched  his  anathemas  even  against 
the  throne  of  Constantinople,  which  he  had  imdertaken  to 
defend,  and  gave  no  more  attention  to  the  deliverance  of 
Jerusalem. 

After  the  death  of  G-regory,  Victor  III.,  although  he 
pursued  the  policy  of  his  predecessor,  and  had  at  the  same 
time  to  contend  against  the  emperor  of  Grermany  and  the 
party  of  the  anti-pope  Guibert,  did  not  neglect  the  oppor- 


40  *  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

tunity  of  making  war  against  the  Mussulmans.  The  Sara- 
cens, inhabiting  Africa,*  disturbed  the  navigation  of  the 
Mediterranean,  and  threatened  the  coast  of  Italv.  Victor 
invited  the  Christians  to  take  arms,  and  promised  them  the 
remission  of  all  their  sins  if  they  went  to  fight  against  the 
infidels.  The  inhabitants  of  Pisa,  Grenoa,  and  several  other 
cities,  urged  by  their  zeal  for  religion,  and  their  desire  to 
defend  their  commerce,  equipped  fleets,  levied  troops,  and 
made  a  descent  upon  the  coasts  of  Africa,  where,  if  we  are 
to  beheve  the  chronicles  of  the  time,  they  cut  in  pieces  an 
army  of  one  hundred  thousand  Saracens.  That  we  may  not 
doubt,  says  Baronius,  that  God  interested  himself  in  the 
cause  of  the  Christians,  on  the  very  day  on  which  the  Italians 
triumphed  over  the  enemies  of  Christ,  the  news  of  the 
victory  was  carried  miraculously  beyond  the  seas.  After 
having  given  up  to  the  flames  two  cities,  Al-Mahadia  and 
Sibila,t  built  within  the  territories  of  ancient  Carthage,  and 
forced  a  king  of  Mauritania  to  pay  a  tribute  to  the  Holy 
See,  the  G-enoese  and  the  Pisans  returned  to  Italy,  where  the 
spoils  of  the  conquered  were  employed  in  ornamenting  the 
churches. 

The  pope  Victor,  however,  died  without  realizing  his 
promise  of  attacking  the  infidels  in  Asia.  The  glory  of 
delivering  Jerusalem  belonged  to  a  simple  pilgrim,  possessed 
of  no  other  power  than  the  influence  of  his  character  and 
his  genius.  Some  assign  an  obscure  origin  to  Peter  the 
Hermit ;  others  say  he  was  descended  from  a  noble  family 
of  Picardy ;  but  all  agree  that  he  had  an  ignoble  and  vulgar 
exterior.  Born  with  a  restless,  active  spirit,  he  sought, 
in  all  conditions  of  life,  for  an  object  which  he  could  meet 
with  iu  none.  The  study  of  letters,  bearing  arms,  cehbacy, 
marriage,  the  ecclesiastical  state,  oflered  nothing  to  him  that 

*  This  expedition,  which  was  a  true  crusade,  a^  pears  to  have  been 
forgotten  by  all  the  historians  of  the  crusades. 

■f  Al-Mdhadia,  the  chief  of  the  citi?s  conquered  by  the  Christians, 
according  to  Oriental  geographers,  was  founded  in  the  year  303  of  ihe 
Hegira,  by  Obeidallah,  or  Abdallah.  It  was  still  considerable  in  the 
fifteenth  century.  Shaw,  who  saw  it  in  1730,  calls  it  El-Medea.  It  is 
situated  thirty  marine  leagues  south  of  Tunis.  J^ibila,  which  is  the  other 
city  conquered  in  this  expedition,  and  which  Shaw  takes  for  the  ancient 
Turris  Annibalis,  is  two  leagues  more  to  the  south,  on  the  same  coast  of 
the  Mediterranean. 


HISTORY    or    TUE    CRUSADES.  ^il 

could  fill  Ills  heart  or  satisfy  his  ardent  mind.  Disgusted 
with  the  world  and  mankind,  he  retired  amongst  the  most 
austere  cenobites.  Fasting,  prayer,  meditation,  the  silence 
of  sohtude,  exalted  his  imagination.  In  his  visions  he  kept 
up  an  habitual  commerce  ^Yith  heaven,  and  believed  himself 
the  instrument  of  its  designs,  and  the  depositary  of  its  will. 
He  possessed  the  fervour  of  an  apostle,  with  the  courage  of  a 
martyr.  His  zeal  gave  way  to  no  obstacle,  and  all  that  he 
desired  seemed  easy  of  attainment.  AYhen  he  spoke,  the 
passions  with  which  he  was  agitated  animated  his  gestures 
and  his  words,  and  communicated  themselves  to  his  audi- 
tors.* Such  was  the  extraordinary  man  who  gave  the 
signal  to  the  Crusaders,  and  who,  without  fortune  and 
without  name,  by  the  ascendancy  of  his  tears  and  prayers 
alone,  succeeded  in  moving  the  West  to  precipitate  itself  in 
a  mass  upon  Asia. 

The  fame  of  the  pilgrimages  to  the  East  drew  Peter  from 
his  retreat,  and  he  followed  into  Palestine  the  crowd  of 
Christians  who  went  to  visit  the  holy  places.  The  sight  of 
Jerusalem  excited  him  much  more  than  any  of  the  other 
pilgrims,  for  it  created  in  his  ardent  mind  a  tliousand  con- 
flicting sentiments.  In  the  city,  which  exhibited  every- 
where marks  of  the  mercy  and  the  anger  of  Grod,  all  objects 
inflamed  his  piety,  irritated  his  devotion  and  his  zeal,  and 
filled  him  by  turns  with  respect,  terror,  and  indignation. 
After  ha^dng  followed  his  brethren  to  Calvary  and  tlie  tomb 
of  Christ,  he  repaired  to  the  patriarch  of  Jerusalem.     The 

*  Anna  Comnena  calls  Peter  the  Kermit  Cucvpiettore,  which  appears 
to  be  taken  from  the  Picard  word  kiokio,  little,  and  from  the  word  Petrus, 
Peter,  little  Peter.  If  we  are  to  believe  Oderic- Vital,  the  hermit  had 
still  another  name,  and  was  called  Peter  of  Achiris.  He  is  styled  in  this 
manner  in  the  chronicle  of  the  counts  of  Anjou  ;  "  Heremita  quidam 
Petrus  Achiriensis."  William  of  Tyre  informs  us  that  he  was  a  hermit 
in  name  and  in  fact  :  ^^  Heremita  nomine  et  effectu.^'  Adrian  Barland, 
in  his  book  De  Gestis  Ducnm  Brabantits,  expresses  himself  thus  : — 
*'  Petrus  Heremita,  Arabianensis,  vir  nobilis,  prima  setate  rei  militari 
deditus,  tametsi  litteris  optimo  imbutus,  sed  corpore  deformis  ac  brevis 
staturae,"  &c.  The  life  of  Peter  the  Hermit  has  been  written  by  Andre 
Thevet,  in  his  "  History  of  the  most  Illustrious  and  Learned  Men  of 
their  Ages,"  and  by  Father  Outtreman,  a  Jesuit.  Several  families  have 
pretended  to  be  descended  from  Peter  the  Hermit.  The  most  rational 
and  best  supported  claim  is  that  of  the  family  of  Souliers,  which  still  exists 
in  the  Limousin. 


±2  nisTOEY  or  the  ckusades. 

wliite  liairs  of  Simeon,  his  venerable  figure,  and,  above  all, 
tlie  persecution  Avhicli  he  had  imdergone,  bespoke  the  full 
confidence  of  Peter,  and  they  wept  together  over  the  ills  of 
the  Christians.  The  hermit,  his  heart  torn,  his  face  bathed 
in  tears,  asked  if  there  was  no  termination  to  be  looked  for, 
no  remedy  to  be  devised,  for  so  many  calamities  ?  "  Oh, 
most  faithful  of  Christians!"  repHed  the  patriarch,  "is  it 
not  plain  that  our  iniquities  have  shut  us  out  from  all  access 
to  the  mercy  of  the  Lord  ?  All  Asia  is  in  the  power  of  the 
Mussulmans,  all  the  East  is  sunk  into  a  state  of  slavery ;  no 
power  on  earth  can  assist  us."  At  these  words  Peter  iater- 
rupted  Simeon,  and  pointed  out  to  him  the  hope  that  the 
warriors  of  the  West  might  one  day  be  the  liberators  of 
Jerusalem.  "  Yes,  without  doubt,"  replied  the  patriarch, 
"  when  the  measure  of  our  afilictions  shall  be  full,  when  God 
will  be  moved  by  our  miseries,  he  will  soften  the  hearts  of 
the  princes  of  the  West,  and  will  send  them  to  the  succour 
of  the  holy  city."  At  these  words  Peter  and  Simeon  felt 
their  hearts  expand  with  hope,  and  embraced  each  other, 
shedding  tears  of  joy.  The  patriarch  resolved  to  implore, 
by  his  letters,  the  help  of  the  pope  and  the  princes  of 
Europe,  and  the  hermit  swore  to  be  the  interpreter  of  the 
Christians  of  the  East,  and  to  rouse  the  West  to  take  arms 
for  their  dehverance. 

After  this  interview,  the  enthusiasm  of  Peter  knew  no 
bounds  ;  he  was  persuaded  that  Heaven  itself  called  upon 
him  to  avenge  its  cause.  One  day,  whilst  prostrated  before 
the  holy  sepulchre,  he  believed  that  he  heard  the  voice  of 
Christ,  which  said  to  him, — "Peter,  arise  !  hasten  to  proclaim 
the  tribulations  of  my  people ;  it  is  time  that  my  servants 
should  receive  help,  and  that  the  holy  places  should  be  deli- 
vered." Pull  of  the  spirit  of  these  words,  which  sounded 
unceasmgly  in  his  ears,  and  charged  with  letters  from  the 
patriarch,  lie  quitted  Palestine,  crossed  the  seas,  landed  on 
the  coast  of  Italy,  and  hastened  to  cast  himself  at  the  feet 
of  the  pope.  The  chair  of  St.  Peter  was  then  occupied  by 
Urban  II.,  who  had  been  the  disciple  and  confidant  of 
both  Grregory  and  Victor.  Urban  embraced  with  ardour  a 
project  which  had  been  entertained  by  his  predecessors  ;  ho 
received  Peter  as  a  prophet,  applauded  his  design,  and  bade 
him  go  forth  and  aimounce  the  approaching  dehverance  of 
Jerusalem. 


niSTOEY   or    THE    CEUSADES.  43 

Peter  tlie  Hermit  traversed  Italy,  crossed  tlie  Alps,  visited 
all  parts  of  France,  and  the  greatest  portion  of  Europe, 
inflamino;  all  hearts  with  the  same  zeal  that  consumed  his 
own.  He  travelled  mounted  on  a  mule,  with  a  crucifix  iu 
his  hand,  his  feet  bare,  liis  head  uncovered,  his  body  girded 
with  a  thick  cord,  covered  with  a  long  frock,  and  a  hermit's 
hood  of  the  coarsest  stuff.  The  singularity  of  his  appear- 
ance was  a  spectacle  for  the  people,  whilst  the  austerity  of 
liis  manners,  his  charity,  and  the  moral  doctrines  that  he 
preached,  caused  him  to  be  revered  as  a  saint  wherever  he 
came. 

He  went  from  city  to  city,  from  province  to  province, 
working  upon  the  courage  of  some,  and  upon  the  piety  of 
others ;  sometimes  haranguing  from  the  pulpits  of  the 
churches,  sometimes  preaching  in  the  high  roads  or  public 
places.  His  eloquence  was  animated  and  impressive,  and 
filled  with  those  vehement  apostrophes  which  produce  such 
effects  upon  an  uncultivated  multitude.  He  described  the 
profanation  of  the  holy  places,  and  the  blood  of  the  Chris- 
tians shed  in  torrents  in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem.  He 
invoked,  by  turns.  Heaven,  the  saints,  the  angels,  whom  he 
called  upon  to  bear  witness  to  the  truth  of  what  he  told 
them.  He  apostrophized  Mount  Sion,  the  rock  of  Calvary, 
and  the  Mount  of  Olives,  which  he  made  to  resound  with  sobs 
and  groans.  ^Hien  he  had  exhausted  speech  in  painting  the 
miseries  of  the  faithful,  he  showed  the  spectators  the  crucifix 
which  he  carried  with  him ;  sometimes  striking  his  breast 
and  wounding  his  flesh,  sometimes  shedding  torrents  of 
tears. 

The  people  followed  the  steps  of  Peter  in  crowds.  The 
preacher  of  the  holy  war  was  received  everywhere  as  a 
messenger  from  Grod.  They  who  could  touch  his  vestments 
esteemed  themselves  happy,  and  a  portion  of  hair  pulled 
from  the  mule  he  rode  was  preserved  as  a  holy  relic.  At 
the  sound  of  his  voice,  differences  in  families  were  reconciled, 
the  poor  were  comforted,  the  debauched  blushed  at  their 
errors  ;  nothing  was  talked  of  but  the  virtues  of  the  eloquent 
cenobite  ;  his  austerities  and  his  miracles  were  described, 
and  his  discourses  were  repeated  to  those  who  had  not  heard 
him,  and  been  edified  by  his  presence. 

He  often  met^  in  his  journeys,  with  Christians  from  the 

Vol.  L— 4 


44  niSTOEY   OF    THE    CEUS.U3ES. 

East,  "who  had  been  banished  from  their  conntiy,  and  \\  an- 
dered  over  Europe,  subsisting  on  charity.  Peter  the  Hermit 
presented  them  to  the  people,  as  lining  evidences  of  the 
barbarity  of  the  infidels  ;  and  pointing  to  the  rags  "with 
Mliicli  they  "were  clothed,  he  burst  into  torrents  of  invectives 
against  their  oppressors  and  persecutors.  At  the  sight  oi 
these  miserable  "uretches,  the  faitlifid.  felt,  by  tiu'ns,  the 
most  lively  emotions  of  pitv,  and  the  fury  of  vengeance  ;  all 
deploring  in  their  hearts  the  miseries  and  the  disgrace  of 
Jerusalem.  The  people  raised  their  voices  to"wards  heaven, 
to  entreat  Grod  to  deign  to  cast  a  look  of  pity  upon  his 
beloved  city  ;  some  offering  their  riches,  others  their  prayers, 
but  all  promising  to  lay  down  their  lives  for  the  deliverance 
of  the  holy  places. 

In  the  midst  of  this  general  excitement,  Alexius  Comnena, 
"who  "uas  threatened  by  the  Turks,  sent  ambassadors  to  the 
pope,  to  solicit  the  assistance  of  the  Latins.  Some  time 
before  this  embassy  he  had  addressed  letters  to  the  princes 
of  the  "West,  in  -which  he  had  described  to  them,  in  a  most 
lamentable  manner,  the  conquests  of  the  Turks  in  Asia 
Ivlinor.  These  savage  hordes,  in  their  debauches  and  in  the 
intoxication  of  victory,  had  outrag^ed  both  nature  and 
humanity.*  They  were  now  at  the  gates  of  Byzantium, 
and,  "without  the  prompt  assistance  of  all  the  Christian 
states,  Constantinople  must  fall  under  the  most  frightful 
domination  of  the  Turks.     Alexius  reminded  the  princes  of 

*  This  letter  of  Alexius,  quoted  in  extract  by  the  Abbe  Guibert,  and 
the  whole  of  it  by  Robert  the  Monk.  M.  Heeren,  in  his  learned  Latin 
commentary  on  the  Greek  historians,  doubts  its  authenticity.  The 
principal  reason  he  gives  for  his  opinion  is,  that  this  letter  differs  too 
strongly  from  the  known  character  of  the  Greek  emperors.  This  reason 
does  not  appear  to  me  sufficient :  we  know  very  well  that  the  Greek 
emperors  affected  great  haughtiness  in  their  correspondence,  but  we  know 
also  that  they  spared  no  prayers  when  ther  were  in  any  danger,  or 
•wanted  assistance  :  nothing  suits  better  with  vanity  than  servility.  Some 
critics  cannot  believe  tliat  Alexius  should  have  spoken  in  his  letters  of  the 
beautiful  women  of  Greece  ;  the  thing  may,  however,  well  be  beUeved, 
when  we  recollect  that  t'tie  Turks,  who  were  invading  the  empire  of 
Byzantium,  sought  with  great  eagerness  to  obtain  Greek  women.  Mon- 
tesquieu remarks  it,  when  speaking  of  the  decline  of  the  empire.  It 
seems  then  very  natural  that  Alexius  should  speak  of  the  beautiful  women 
of  Byzantium,  when  addressing  the  Franks,  whom  the  Greeks  considered 
barbarians,  and  governed  by  the  same  tastes  as  the  Turks. 


HISTOET   OF    THE    CEUSADES.  45 

Christianity  of  the  holy  relics  preserved  in  Constantinople, 
and  conjured  them  to  save  so  sacred  an  assemblage  of 
venerated  objects  from  the  profanation  of  the  infidels.  After 
having  set  forth  the  splendour  and  the  riches  of  his  capital, 
he  exhorted  the  knights  and  barons  to  come  and  defend 
them ;  he  offered  them  his  treasures  as  the  reward  of  their 
valour,  and  painted  in  glowing  colours  the  beauty  of  the 
Greek  women,  whose  love  would  repay  the  exploits  of  his 
liberators.  Thus,  nothing  was  spared  that  could  flatter  the 
passions,  or  arouse  the  enthusiasm  of  the  warriors  of  the 
West.  The  invasion  of  the  Turks  was,  in  the  eyes  of 
Alexius,  the  greatest  misfortune  that  the  chief  of  a  Christian 
kingdom  had  to  dread ;  and  to  avert  such  a  danger,  every- 
thing appeared  to  him  just  and  allowable.  He  could  support 
the  idea  of  losing  his  crown,  but  not  the  shame  of  seeing 
his  states  subjected  to  the  laws  of  Mahomet :  if  he  was 
doomed  one  day  to  lose  his  empire,  he  could  console  himself 
for  that  loss,  provided  Grreece  escaped  the  Mussulman  yoke, 
and  became  the  prize  of  the  Latms. 

In  compliance  with  the  prayers  of  Alexius  and  the  wishes  of 
the  faithful,  the  sovereign  pontiff  convoked  a  council  at  Plai- 
sance,  in  order  there  to  expose  the  dangers  of  the  Grreek  and 
Latin  Churches  in  the  East.  The  preachings  of  Peter  had  so 
prepared  the  minds  and  animated  the  zeal  of  the  faithful, 
that  more  than  two  hundred  bishops  and  archbishops,  four 
thousand  ecclesiastics,  and  thirty  thousand  of  the  laity  obeyed 
the  invitation  of  the  Holy  See.  The  council  was  so  numerous 
that  it  was  obhged  to  be  held  in  a  plain  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  the  city. 

At  this  assembly  all  eyes  were  turned  upon  the  ambas- 
sadors of  Alexius  ;  their  presence  in  the  midst  of  a  Latin 
council,  announced  sufficiently  plainly  the  disastrous  con- 
dition of  the  East.  AVTien  they  had  exhorted  the  princes 
and  the  wan^iors  to  save  Constantinople  and  Jerusalem,  Urban 
supported  their  discourse  and  their  prayers  with  all  the 
reasons  w  hich  the  interests  of  Christianity  and  the  cause  of 
religion  could  furnish.  The  council  of  Plaisance,  however, 
came  to  no  determination  upon  the  war  against  the  infidels. 
The  deliverance  of  the  Holy  Land  was  far  from  being  the 
only  object  of  this  council :  the  declarations  of  the  empress 
Adelaide,  who  came  to  reveal  her  own  shame,  and  that  of 


46  HISTOET    or    THE    CEUSADES. 

her  husband,  anathemas  against  the  emperor  of  G-ermany 
and  the  anti-pope,  Giiibert.  occupied,  during  several  davs, 
the  attention  of  Urban  and  the  assembled  fathers. 

It  must  be  added,  too,  that  among  the  states  of  Italv,  in 
which  coimtrv  this  council  was  held,  the  spirit  of  commerce 
and  Kbertv  began  to  weaken  the  enthusiasm  of  religion.  The 
greater  part  of  the  cities  only  thought  of  the  advantages 
that  might  accrue  to  them  from  the  troubles ;  some  enter- 
taining hopes  they  would  increase  their  wealth,  others 
looking  to  them  as  a  means  of  securing  their  independence, 
and  none  ^-ieldinsr  so  freely  as  other  nations  to  the  influence 
of  the  popes.  AVhilst  the  Christian  world  revered  in  Urban 
the  formidable  successor  of  G-regory,  the  Italians,  whose 
charity  he  had  frequently  implored,  were  best  acquainted 
with  his  disgraces  and  misfortunes  :  his  presence  did  not  in 
anv  desree  warm  their  zeal,  and  his  decrees  were  not  alwavs 
laws  for  them,  who  had  seen  him,  trom  the  depths  of  misery 
and  in  exile,  launch  his  thim-ders  against  the  thrones  of  the 
AVest. 

The  prudent  Urban  avoided  trying  to  arouse  the  ardour 
of  the  Italians ;  he  did  not  think  tlieir  example  at  all  likely 
to  lead  on  other  nations.  In  order  to  take  a  decided  part 
in  the  civil  war,  and  to  interest  all  Europe  in  its  success,  he 
resolved  to  assemble  a  second  synod,  in  the  bosom  of  a 
warlike  nation,  which,  from  the  most  distant  times,  had  been 
accustomed  to  give  impulsion  to  Eui'ope.  The  new  council 
assembled  at  Clermont,  in  Auvergne,  was  neither  less 
numerous  nor  respectable  than  that  of  Plaisance  ;  the  most 
reno^vned  holy  men  and  learned  doctors  came  to  honour  it 
with  their  presence,  and  enlighten  it  with  their  counsels. 
The  citv  of  Clermont  was  scarcelv  able  to  contain  within 
its  walls  all  the  princes,  ambassadors,  and  prelates  who  had 
repaired  to  the  council;  ''so  that,"  says  an  ancient  chro- 
nicle,* "  towards  the  middle  of  the  month  of  Xovember,  the 
cities  and  villages  of  the  neio:hbourhood  were  so  filled  with 
people,  that  they  were  compelled  to  erect  tents  and  pavilions 
in  the  fields  and  meadows,  although  the  season  and  the 
coimtiy  were  extremely  cold." 

Before  it  gave  up  its  attention  to  the  holy  war,  the  council 

*  See  William  Aubert's  "  History  of  the  Conquest  of  Jerusalem." 


HISTOllY    OF   TKE    CIIUSADES.  47 

at  first  considered  the  reform  of  the  clergj  and  ecclesiastical 
discipline  ;  and  it  then  occupied  itself  in  placing  a  restraint 
npon  the  license  of  wars  among  indi\'iduals.  In  these  bar- 
barous times  even  simple  knights  never  thought  of  redressing 
their  injuries  by  any  other  means  than  arms.  It  vras  not 
an  uncommon  thing  to  see  families,  for  the  slightest  causes, 
commence  a  war  against  each  other  that  would  last  diu-ing 
several  generations ;  Europe  was  distracted  with  troubles 
occasioned  by  these  hostilities.  In  the  impotence  of  the 
laws  and  the  governments,  the  Church  often  exerted  its 
salutary  influence  to  restore  tranquiUity  :  several  coimcils 
had  placed  their  interdict  upon  private  wars  during  four 
days  of  the  week,  and  their  decrees  had  invoked  the  ven- 
geance of  Heaven  against  disturbers  of  the  public  peace.  The 
council  of  Clermont  renewed  the  truce  of  Grod,  and  threatened 
all  who  refused  "  to  accept  peace  and  justice''''  with  the 
tliunders  of  the  Church.  One  of  its  decrees  placed  widows, 
orphans,  merchants,  and  labourers  under  the  safeguard  of 
religion.  They  declared,  as  they  had  already  done  in  other 
councils,  that  the  churches  should  be  so  many  inviolable 
sanctuaries,  and  that  crosses,  even,  placed  upon  the  high 
roads  should  become  points  of  refuge  against  violence. 

Humanity  and  reason  must  applaud  such  salutary  decrees  ; 
but  the  sovereign  pontiff",  although  he  presented  himself  as 
the  defender  of  the  sanctity  of  marriage,  did  not  merit  the 
same  praises  when  he  pronounced  in  this  council  an  anathema 
against  Philip  I. :  but  such  was  then  the  general  infatuation, 
that  no  one  was  astonished  that  a  king  of  France  should  be 
excommunicated  in  the  very  bosom  of  his  own  kingdom. 
The  sentence  of  Urban  could  not  divert  attention  from  an 
object  that  seemed  much  more  imposing,  and  the  excom- 
munication of  Philip  scarcely  holds  a  place  in  the  history  of 
the  comicil  of  Clermont.  The  faithful,  gathered  from  all  the 
provinces,  had  but  one  single  thought ;  they  spoke  of  nothmg 
but  the  e\dls  the  Christians  endured  in  Palestine,  and  saw 
nothing  but  the  war  which  was  about  to  be  declared  against 
the  infidels.  Enthusiasm  and  fanaticism,  which  always 
increase  in  large  assemblies,  were  carried  to  their  full  height. 
Urban  at  length  satisfied  the  impatience  of  the  faithful, 
impatience  which  he,  perhaps,  had  adroitly  excited,  and 
which  was  the  surest  guarantee  of  success. 


48  HISTOET    OF    TRE    CErSADES. 

The  council  held  its  tenth  sitting  in  the  g;reat  square  or 
place  of  Clermont,  which  was  soon  filled  by  an  immense 
crowd.  Followed  by  his  cardinals,  the  pope  ascended  a 
species  of  throne  which  had  been  prepared  for  hbn  ;  at  his 
side  was  Peter  tiie  Hermit,  clad  in  that  whunsical  and  uncouth 
garl)  wliich  had  evei'}"\vhere  drawn  upon  hun  the  attention 
and  the  respect  of  the  multitude.  The  apostle  of  the  holy 
war  spoke  first  of  the  outrages  committed  against  the  religion 
of  Christ ;  he  reverted  to  the  profanations  and  the  sacrileges 
of  which  he  had  been  a  witness ;  he  pictured  the  torments 
and  persecutions  which  a  people,  enemies  to  God  and  man, 
had  caused  those  to  suffer  who  had  been  led  bv  religion  to 
visit  the  holy  places.  He  had  seen,  he  said,  Christians 
loaded  with  irons,  di-agged  into  slavery,  or  harnessed  to  the 
yoke,  like  the  vilest  animals  ;  he  had  seen  the  oppressors 
of  Jerusalem  sell  to  the  children  of  Christ  permission  to 
salute  the  temple  of  their  God,  tear  from  them  even  the 
bread  of  their  misery,  and  torment  their  poverty  itself  to 
obtain  their  tribute  ;  he  had  seen  the  ministers  of  God 
dragged  from  their  sanctuaries,  beaten  with  rods,  and  con- 
demned to  an  ignominious  death.  AVhilst  describing  the 
misfortunes  and  degradation  of  the  Christians,  the  coun- 
tenance of  Peter  was  east  doAvn,  and  exhibited  feelings  of 
consternation  and  hoiTor  ;  his  voice  was  choked  with  sobs  ; 
his  lively  emotion  penetrated  every  heart. 

Urban,  who  spoke  after  Peter,  represented,  as  he  had 
done,  the  holy  places  as  profaned  by  the  domination  of  the 
infidels.  That  land,  consecrated  by  the  presence  of  the 
Saviour,  that  mountain  whereon  he  expiated  our  sins  by  his 
sufferings, — that  tomb  in  which  he  deigned  to  be  enclosed 
as  a  victim  to  death,  had  all  become  the  heritage  of  the 
impious.  The  altars  of  false  prophets  were  raised  within 
those  walls  which  had  contained  the  august  assemblv  of  the 
apostles.  God  had  no  longer  a  sanctuary  in  his  own  city ; 
the  East,  the  cradle  of  the  Christian  religion,  now  witnessed 
nothing  but  saci-ilegious  pomps  ;  impiety  had  spread  its 
darkness  over  all  the  richest  coimtries  of  Asia.  Antioch, 
Ephesus,  Xicea,  had  become  Mussulman  cities ;  the  Turks 
had  carried  their  ravages  and  their  odious  dominion  even  to 
the  Sti-aits  of  the  Hellespont,  to  the  very  gates  of  Constan- 
tinople, and  from  thence  thev  threatened  the  West. 


HISTORY    OF    TITE    CRUSADES.  49 

Tlie  sovereign  pontiff*  addressed  himself  to  all  tlie  na- 
tions that  were  represented  at  the  council,  and  particularly 
to  the  French,  who  formed  the  majority  :— "  Nation  beloved 
by  God,"  said  he,  "  it  is  in  your  coui^age  that  the  Chris- 
tian church  has  placed  its  hope  ;  it  is  because  I  am  well 
acquainted  with  your  piety  and  yoiu*  bravery,  that  I  have 
crossed  the  Alps,  and  am  come  to  preach  the  word  of 
God  in  these  countries.  You  have  not  forgotten  that  the 
land  you  inhabit  has  been  invaded  by  the  Saracens,  and  that 
but  for  the  exploits  of  Charles  IMartel  and  Charlemagne, 
Prance  would  have  received  the  laws  of  Mahomet.  Eecall, 
Avithout  ceasing,  to  your  minds  the  danger  and  the  glory  of 
your  fathers ;  led  by  heroes  whose  names  should  never  die, 
they  delivered  your  countr^^,  they  saved  the  AVest  from 
shameful  slavery,  jNIore  noble  triumphs  await  you,  under 
the  guidance  of  the  God  of  armies ;  you  will  deliver 
Europe  and  Asia  ;  you  will  save  the  city  of  Jesus  Christ, — 
that  Jerusalem  which  was  chosen  by  the  Lord,  and  from 
whence  the  law  is  come  to  us." 

As  Urban  proceeded,  the  sentiments  by  which  he  was 
animated  penetrated  to  the  very  souls  of  his  auditors.  When 
he  spoke  of  the  captivity  and  the  misfortunes  of  Jerusa- 
lem, the  whole  assembly  was  dissolved  in  tears ;  when  he 
described  the  tyranny  and  the  perfidy  of  the  infidels,  the 
warriors  who  listened  to  him  clutched  their  swords,  and 
swore  in  their  hearts  to  avenge  the  cause  of  the  Chris- 
tians. Urban  redoubled  their  enthusiasm  by  announcing 
that  God  had  chosen  them  to  accomplish  his  designs,  and 
exhorted  them  to  turn  those  arms  against  the  Mussulmans 
which  they  now  bore  in  conflict  against  their  brothers.    They 

*  We  have  at  command  several  historians  who  report  the  speech  of 
Urban  ;  they  are  agreed  as  to  the  principal  points,  but  differ  in  the 
details.  The- monk  Robert,  who  was  present  at  the  council,  says  :  Hcec 
et  id  genus  plurima  ubi  Papa  Urbanus  urhano  sermone  peroravit. 
Baldric  or  Boudri  expresses  himself  thus  :  His  vel  hujuscemodi  aliis,  &c. 
Everything  leads  ns  to  believe  that  the  pope  pronounced  his  discourse  in 
the  language  of  the  country.  That  which  renders  this  opinion  more  pro- 
bable, is  that  Urban  was  a  Frenchman,  and  that  otherwise  it  was  of  con- 
sequence to  make  himself  well  understood  by  the  barons  and  the  knights, 
who  were  not  acquainted  with  Latin.  If  he  had  not  pronounced  his 
discourse  in  the  vulgar  tongue,  he  would  not  have  produced  that  extra- 
ordinary enthusiasm  which  contemporary  history  says  so  much  of. 


50  HISTORY    or    THE    CRUSADES. 

were  not  now  called  upon  to  revenge  the  injuries  of  men, 
but  injuries  offered  to  divinity ;  it  was  now  not  the  conquest 
of  a  town  or  a  castle  that  was  offered  to  them  as  the  reward 
of  their  valour,  but  the  riches  of  Asia,  the  possession  of  a 
land  in  which,  according  to  the  promises  of  the  Scriptures, 
flowed  streams  of  milk  and  honey. 

The  pontiff  sought  to  awaken  in  their  minds,  by  turns, 
ambition,  the  love  of  glory,  religious  enthusiasm,  and  pity 
for  their  Clu-istian  brethren.  "There  scarcely  exists,"  said 
he,  "  a  Christian  family  into  which  the  Mussulmans  have 
not  brought  moumuig  and  despair.  How  many  Christians 
every  year  leave  the  West,  to  find  in  Asia  nothing  but 
slavery  or  death !  Bishops  have  been  delivered  over  to  the 
executioner ;  the  virgins  of  the  Lord  have  been  outraged ; 
holy  places  have  been  despoiled  of  their  ornaments  ;  the 
offerings  of  piety  have  become  the  booty  of  the  enemies  of 
God  ;  the  children  of  the  faithful  have  forgotten  in  bondage 
the  faith  of  their  fathers,  and  bear  upon  their  bodies  the 
impression  of  their  opprobrium.  Witnesses  of  so  many 
calamities,  the  Christians  of  Jerusalem  would  long  since 
have  left  the  holy  city,  if  they  had  not  imposed  upon  them- 
selves the  obhgation  of  succouring  and  consoling  pilgrims, 
if  they  had  not  feared  to  leave  Avithout  priests,  \s-ithout  altars, 
without  worshippers,  a  land  where  still  smokes  the  blood  of 
Jesus  Christ. 

"  I  will  not  seek  to  dry  the  tears  which  images  so  painful 
for  a  Christian,  for  a  minister  of  religion,  for  the  common 
father  of  the  faithful,  must  draw  from  you.  Let  us  weep, 
my  brethren,  let  us  weep  over  the  errors  which  have  armed 
the  anger  of  Grod  against  us  ;  let  us  weep  over  the  captivity 
of  the  holy  city !  But  evil  be  to  us,  if,  in.  our  sterile  pity, 
we  lono:er  leave  the  heritacce  of  the  Lord  in  the  hands  of  the 
impious !  Why  should  we  taste  here  a  moment's  repose 
whilst  the  children  of  Jesus  Christ  live  in  the  midst  of 
torments,  and  the  queen  of  cities  groans  in  chains  ? 

"  Christian  warriors,  who  seek  without  end  for  vain  pre- 
texts for  war,  rejoice,  for  you  have  to-day  found  true  ones. 
Tou,  who  have  been  so  often  the  terror  of  your  fellow- 
citizens,  go  and  fight  against  the  barbarians,  go  and  fight  for 
the  deliverance  of  the  holy  places  ;  you  who  sell  for  yile  pay 
the  strength  of  your  arms  to  the  fury  of  others,  armed  with 


HISTOET    OF    THE    CKUSADES.  H 

the  sword  of  the  Machabees,  go  and  merit  an  eternal  re^^^^d. 
If  you  triumph  over  your  enemies,  the  kingdoms  of  the 
East  ^Yill  be  your  heritage  ;  if  you  are  conquered,  you  vrill 
have  the  glory  of  dying  in  the  yery  same  place  as  Jwsus 
Christ,  and  Grod  will  not  forget  that  he  shall  have  found  you 
iu  his  holy  ranks.  This  is  the  moment  to  prove  that  you 
lire  animated  by  a  true  courage  ;  this  is  the  moment  in  which 
you  may  expiate  so  many  ^^olences  committed  in  the  bosom 
of  peace,  so  many  victories  purchased  at  the  expense  of 
justice  and  humanity.  If  you  must  have  blood,  bathe  your 
hands  in  the  blood  of  the  inhdels.  I  speak  to  you  with  harsh- 
ness, because  my  ministry  obliges  me  to  do  so:  soldiers  or 

HELL,  BECOME  SOLDIERS  OF  THE  LIVIKG  GOd!     When  JcsUS 

Christ  summons  you  to  his  defence,  let  no  base  affections 
detain  you  in  your  homes ;  see  nothing  but  the  shame  and 
the  evils  of  the  Christians  ;  listen  to  nothing  but  the  groans 
of  Jerusalem,  and  remember  well  what  the  Lord  has  said  to 
you  :  '  He  tvho  loves  Ida  father  and  his  mother  more  than  me, 
is  not  worthy  of  me  ;  whoever  will  abandon  his  house,  or  his 
father,  or  his  mother,  or  his  w'ife,  or  his  children,  or  his 
inheritance,  for  the  sake  of  my  name,  shall  he  recompensed  a 
hundredfold,  and  possess  life  eternal.''  " 

At  these  words  the  auditors  of  Urban  displayed  an 
enthusiasm  that  human  eloquence  had  never  before  inspired. 
The  assembly  arose  in  one  mass  as  one  man,  and  answered 
him  with  a  unanimous  cry, — "  It  is  the  will  of  God  !  It  is 
the  ivill  of  God !''*  "  Yes,  without  doubt,  it  is  the  will  of 
God,"  continued  the  eloquent  Urban ;  "  you  to-day  see  the 
accomplishment  of  the  word  of  our  Saviour,  who  promised 
to  be  in  the  midst  of  the  faithful,  when  assembled  in  his 
name ;  it  is  He  who  has  dictated  to  you  the  words  that  I 
have  heard.  Let  them  be  jour  war-cry,  and  let  them 
announce  everywhere  the  presence  of  the  God  of  armies." 
On  finishing  these  words,  the  pontiff  exhibited  to  the  assem- 
bled Christians,  the  sign  of  their  redemption.  "  It  is  Christ 
himself,"  said  he  to  them,  "who  issues  from  his  tomb,  and 
presents  to  you  his  cross  :  it  will  be  the  sign  raised  among 
the  nations,  which  is  to  gather  together  again  the  dispersed 

*  Dieu  le  veut  was  pronounced  in  the  language  of  the  times  Dieu  li 
volt,  or  Diex  le  volt. 


52  jiisTOUY  or  THE  crusades. 

children  of  Israel.  AYear  it  upon  your  shoulders  and  upon 
your  breasts ;  let  it  shine  upon  your  arms  and  upon  your 
'standards  ;  it  \\-ill  be  to  yoii  the  surety  of  victory  or  the  palm 
of  martyrdom ;  it  ^vill  unceasingly  remind  you  that  Christ 
died  for* you,  and  that  it  is  your  duty  to  die  for  him." 

"When  Urban  had  ceased  to  speak,  loud  acclamations 
burst  from  the  multitude.  Pity,  indignation,  despair,  at  the 
same  time  agitated  the  tumultuous  assembly  of  the  faithful : 
some  shed  tears  over  Jerusalem  and  the  fate  of  the  Chris- 
tians ;  others  swore  to  exterminate  the  race  of  the  Mussul- 
mans ;  but,  all  at  once,  at  a  signal  from  the  soyereign  pontiff, 
the  most  profound  silence  preyailed.  Cardinal  Grregory, 
who  afterwards  occupied  the  chair  of  St.  Peter  under  the 
name  of  Innocent  II.,  pronounced,  in  a  loud  voice,  a  form 
of  general  confession,  the  assembly  all  fell  upon  their  knees, 
beat  their  breasts,  and  received  absolution  for  their  sins. 

Adhemar  de  Monteil,  bishop  of  Puy,  demanded  to  be  first 
allowed  to  enter  into  the  way  of  God,  and  took  the  cross 
from  the  hands  of  the  pope ;  several  other  bishops  following 
liis  example.  Raymond,  count  of  Thoulouse,  excused  him- 
self by  his  ambassadors  for  not  being  able  to  be  present  at 
the  council  of  Clermont ;  he  had  already,  he  said,  fought 
against  the  Saracens  in  Spain,  and  he  promised  to  go  and 
fight  against  tliem  in  Asia,  followed  by  the  bravest  and  most 
faithful  of  his  warriors.  The  barons  and  knights  who  had 
heard  the  exhortations  of  Urban,  all  took  a  solemn  oath  to 
revenge  the  cause  of  Jesus  Christ ;  they  forgot  their  private 
quarrels,  and  even  they  who  were  at  actual  war  had  no 
longer  any  enemies  than  the  Mussulmans.  All  the  faithful 
promised  "to  respect  the  decrees  of  the  council,  and  decorated 
their  garments  ^yith  a  red  cross.  From  that  time,  all  who 
engaged  to  combat  the  infidels  were  termed  "  Bearers  of  the 
Gross,'"*  and  the  holy  war  took  the  name  of  Grusade.     The 

*  The  cross  which  the  faithful  wore  in  this  crusade  was  of  cloth,  and 
sometimes  even  of  red-coloured  silk.  Afterwards  they  wore  crosses  of  differ- 
ent colours.  The  cross,  a  little  in  relief,  was  sewed  upon  the  right  shoulder 
of  the  coat  or  mantle,  or  else  fastened  on  the  front  of  the  helmet,  after 
having  been  blessed  by  the  pope  or  some  bishop.  The  prayers  and  cere- 
monies used  on  this  occasion  are  still  to  be  found  in  the  Romish  ritual. 
On  returning  from  the  Holy  Land,  they  removed  this  mark  from  the 
shoulder  and  placed  it  on  the  back,  or  else  wore  it  at  the  neck.  (See  Le  Pere 
MoNTFAUcoN,  DucANGE,  Mailly,  and  Le  Pere  d'Outremant.) 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  53 

faithful  solicited  Urban  to  place  himself  at  their  head ;  but 
the  pontiff,  who  had  not  yet  triumphed  over  the  anti-pope 
Guibert,  who  was  dealing  out  at  the  same  time  his 
anathemas  against  the  king  of  France  and  the  emperor  of 
G-ermany,  could  not  quit  Europe  without  compromismg  the 
power  and  the  policy  of  the  Holy  kSee.  He  refused  to  be 
chief  of  the  crusade,  and  named  the  bishop  of  Puy  apostolic 
legate  with  the  army  of  the  Christians. 

He  promised  to  all  wlio  assumed  the  cross,  the  entire 
remission  of  their  sins.  Their  persons,  their  families,  their 
property,  were  all  placed  under  the  protection  of  the  Church, 
and  of  the  apostles  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul.  The  council 
declared  that  eyery  yiolence  exercised  upon  the  soldiers  of 
Christ  should  be  punished  by  anathema,  and  recommended 
its  decrees  in  favour  of  the  bearers  of  the  cross  to  the 
watchful  care  of  all  bishops  and  priests.  It  regulated  the 
disciphne  and  the  departure  of  those  who  had  enrolled 
fchemselyes  in  the  holy  ranks,  and  for  fear  reflection  might 
deter  any  from  leaving  their  homes,  it  threatened  with 
excommunication  all  those  who  did  not  fulfil  their  vows. 

Fame  soon  spread  everj^here  the  war  that  had  just  been 
declared  against  the  infidels.  When  the  bishops  returned 
to  their  dioceses,  they  still  continued  to  bestow  their  bless- 
ings upon  the  crosses  of  the  crowds  of  Christians  that 
required  to  be  led  to  the  conquest  of  the  Holy  Land.  Urban 
went  through  several  provinces  of  France,  to  finish  the  work 
he  had  so  happily  begun.  In  the  cities  of  Eouen,  Tours, 
and  Mmes  he  held  councils,  in  which  he  deplored  the  fate 
of  the  Christians  of  the  East :  everywhere  the  people  and 
the  great,  the  nobles  and  the  clergy,  obeyed  the  pressing 
exhortations  of  the  pontiif,  and  promised  to  take  arms 
against  the  Mussidmaus. 

It  might  be  said  that  the  French  had  no  longer  any  other 
country  than  the  Holy  Land,  and  that  to  it  they  were  bound 
to  sacrifice  their  ease,  their  property,  and  their  lives.  This 
enthusiasm,  which  had  no  bounds,  was  not  long  in  extend- 
ing itself  to  the  other  Christian  nations ;  the  flame  which 
consumed  France  was  communicated  to  England,  still  dis- 
turbed by  the  recent  conquest  of  the  IsTormans ;  to  Grer- 
many,  troubled  by  the  anathemas  of  Gregory  and  Urban ; 
to  Italy,  agitated  by  its  factions ;  to  Spain  even,  although  it 


54  niSTOET    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

had  to  combat  the  Saracens  on  its  own  territory.  Such  was 
the  ascendancy  of  the  religion  outraged  by  the  infidels,  such 
"was  the  influence  of  the  example  given  by  the  French,  that 
all  Christian  nations  seemed  to  forget,  at  once,  the  objects  of 
their  ambition  or  their  fears,  and  furnished,  for  the  crusade, 
soldiers  that  they  absolutely  required  to  defend  themselves. 
The  entire  AVest  resounded  with  these  words:  "^e  wJio 
will  not  take  tcj)  Jiis  cross  and  come  with  me,  is  not  icorthy 
of  me.^^ 

The  devotion  for  pilgrimages,  which  had  been  increasing 
during  several  centuries,  became  a  passion  and  an  imperative 
want  for  most  Christians  ;  every  one  was  eager  to  march  to 
Jerusalem,  and  to  take  part  in  the  crusade,  which  was,  in  all 
respects,  an  armed  pilgrimage.  The  situation  in  which 
Europe  was  then  placed,  no  doubt  contributed  to  increase 
the  number  of  pilgrims  :  '•  all  things  were  in  such  disorder," 
says  William  of  T\Te,  "that  the  world  appeared  to  be 
approaching  to  its  end,  and  was  ready  to  fall  again  into  the 
confusion  of  chaos."  Everv^"here  the  people,  as  I  have 
already  said,  groaned  under  a  horrible  servitude  ;  a  frightful 
scarcity  of  provisions,  which  had,  during  several  years,  deso- 
lated France  and  the  greater  part  of  the  kingdoms  of  the 
"West,  had  given  birth  to  all  sorts  of  brigandage  and  violence  ; 
and  these  proving  the  destruction  of  agriculture  and  com- 
merce, increased  still  further  the  horrors  of  the  famine. 
Villages,  to^iis  even,  became  void  of  inhabitants,  and  sank 
into  ruins.  The  people  abandoned  a  land  which  no  longei 
nourished  them,  or  could  offer  them  either  repose  or  security: 
the  standard  of  the  cross  appeared  to  them  a  certain  asylum 
against  misery  and  oppression.  According  to  the  decrees  of 
the  council  of  Clermont,  the  Crusaders  were  freed  from  all 
imposts,  and  could  not  be  pursued  for  debts  during  their 
voyage.  At  the  name  of  the  cross,  the  very  laws  suspended 
their  menaces,  tyranny  could  not  seek  its  victims,  nor  justice 
even  the  guilty,  amidst  those  whom  the  Church  adopted  for 
its  defenders.  The  assiu-ance  of  impunity,  the  hope  of  a 
better  fate,  the  love  of  license,  and  a  desire  to  shake  off  the 
most  sacred  ties,  actuated  a  vast  proportion  of  the  multitude 
which  flocked  to  the  banners  of  the  crusade. 

Many  nobles  who  had  not  at  first  taken  the  cross,  and 
who  saw  their  vassals  set  out,  without  having  the  power  to 


IIISTOBY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  §5 

prevent  them,  determined  to  follow  tliem  as  military  chiefs, 
in  order  to  preserve  some  portion  of  their  authority.  The 
greater  part  of  the  counts  and  barons  had  no  hesitation  in 
quitting  Em-ope,  which  the  council  had  declared  to  be  in  a 
state  of  peace,  as  it  no  longer  aftbrded  them  an  opportunity 
of  distinguishing  themselves  by  their  valour ;  they  had  all 
many  crimes  to  expiate;  "they  were  promised,"  says 
Montesquieu,  "  expiation  in  the  indulgence  of  their 
dominant  passion, — they  took  up,  therefore,  the  cross  and 
arms." 

The  clergy  themselves  set  the  example.  Many  of  the 
bishops,  w^ho  bore  the  titles  of  coimts  and  barons,  and  who 
were  accustomed  to  make  war  in  defence  of  the  rights  of 
their  bishoprics,  thought  it  their  duty  to  arm  for  the  cause 
of  Jesus  Christ.  The  priests,  to  give  greater  weight  to 
their  exhortations,  themselves  assumed  the  cross ;  a  great 
number  of  pastors  resolved  to  follow  their  flocks  to  Jeru- 
salem ;  not  a  few  of  them,  as  we  shall  see  hereafter,  having 
in  their  minds  the  rich  bishoprics  of  Asia,  and  allowing 
themselves  to  be  led  by  the  hope  of  some  day  occupying  the 
most  celebrated  sees  of  the  Eastern  church. 

In  the  midst  of  the  anarchy  and  troubles  v»^hich  had  deso- 
lated Europe  since  the  reign  of  Charlemagne,  there  had 
arisen  an  association  of  noble  knights,  who  wandered  over 
the  world  in  search  of  adventures ;  they  had  taken  an  oath 
to  protect  innocence,  to  fight  against  infidels,  and,  by  a 
singular  contrast,  called  themselves  the  Champions  of  God 
and  of  Beauti/,  The  religion  which  had  consecrated  their 
institution  and  blessed  their  sword,  called  them  to  its  defence, 
and  the  order  of  chivahy,  which  owes  a  great  part  of  its 
splendour  and  progress  to  the  holy  wars,  saw  its  warriors 
hasten  to  range  themselves  under  the  banners  of  the  cross. 

Ambition  was,  perhaps,  not  foreign  to  the  devotion  for 
the  cause  of  Christ.  If  religion  promised  its  rewards  to 
those  who  were  going  to  fight  for  it,  fortune  promised  them, 
likewise,  riches  and  the  thrones  of  the  earth.  All  who 
returned  from  the  East,  spoke  with  enthusiasm  of  the  wonders 
they  had  seen,  and  of  the  rich  provinces  they  had  traversed. 
It  was  known  that  two  or  three  himdred  Norman  pilgrims 
had  conquered  Apulia  and  Sicily  from  the  Saracens.  The 
lands  occupied  by  the  infidels  appeared  to  be  heritages  pro- 


56  HISTOUT    OF    THE    CEUSA-DES. 

mised  to  kniglits  whose  whole  wealth  consisted  in  their  birth, 
their  valour,  and  their  sword.* 

AVe  should  nevertheless  deceive  ourselves  if  we  did  not 
believe  that  religion  was  the  principle  which  acted  most 
powerfullv  upon  the  greater  number  of  the  Crusaders.  In 
ordinarv  times  men  follow  their  natural  inclinations, .  and 
onlv  obev  the  voice  of  their  own  interest ;  but  in  the  times 
of  the  Crusades,  rehgious  fever  M'as  a  blind  passion,  which 
spoke  louder  than  all  others.  Eehgion  permitted  not  any 
other  srlorv,  anv  other  fehcitv  to  be  seen  bv  its  ardent 
defenders,  but  those  which  she  presented  to  their  heated 
imagination.  Love  of  countrv,  family  ties,  the  most  tender 
affections  of  the  heart,  were  all  sacriticed  to  the  ideas  and 
the  opinions  which  then  possessed  the  whole  of  Europe. 
Moderation  was  cowardice,  indifference  treason,  opposition 
a  sacrilegious  interference.  The  power  of  the  laws  was 
reckoned  as  notliinsr  amon2:st  men  who  believed  thev  were 
fighting  in  the  cause  of  Grod.  Subjects  scarcely  acknow- 
ledged the  authority  of  princes  or  lords  in  anything  which 
concerned  the  holy  war ;  the  master  and  the  slave  had  no 
other  title  than  that  of  Christian,  no  other  duty  to  perform 
than  that  of  defending  his  rehgion,  sword  in  hand. 

They  whom  age  or  condition  appeared  to  detain  in  Europe, 
and  whom  the  council  had  exempted  from  the  labours  and 
peiils  of  the  crusade,  caused  the  heaven  which  called  them 
to  the  holy  war  to  speak  aloud.f  "Women  and  children  im- 
printed crosses  upon  their  dehcate  and  weak  hmbs,  to  show 
the  will  of  God.i  Monks  deserted  the  cloisters  in  which 
they  had  sworn  to  die,  beheving  themselves  led  by  a  divine 

*  Robert  le  Frisin,  second  son  of  tlie  count  of  Flanders,  not  being 
allowed  a  share  of  the  wealth  of  his  house,  said  to  his  father,  "  Give  me 
men  and  vessels,  and  I  will  go  and  conquer  a  state  among  the  Saracens  of 
Spain." 

t  The  archbishop  of  Dol  could  not  refrain  from  showing  his  surprise 
by  words  very  remarkable  for  the  time  :  Eicessit  tamen  medicina  rnodum, 
quia  plus  quam  debuit  in  quibusdam  eundi  voluntas  surrepsit. — Baldric, 
Archiep.  lib.  i. 

X  The  Abbe  Guibert  quotes  the  example  of  a  monk  who  made  a  large 
incision  on  his  forehead  in  the  form  of  a  cross,  and  preserved  it  with  pre- 
pared juices.  He  took  care  to  report  that  an  angel  had  made  this 
incision,  which  procured  for  him,  during  both  the  voyage  and  the  war, 
all  the  help  he  could  desire.  He  became  archbishop  of  Csesarea.  Foulque, 


HISTORY    OF   THE    CRUSADES.  57 

inspiration  ;  laermits  and  anchorites  issued  from  forests  and 
deserts,  and  muisfled  ^Yith  the  crowd  of  Crusaders.  AVhat  is 
stni  more  difficult  to  believe,  thieves  and  robbers,  quitting 
their  secret  retreats,  came  to  confess  their  crimes,  and  pro- 
mised, whilst  recei^'ing  the  cross,  to  go  and  expiate  them  in 
Palestine. 

Europe  appeared  to  be  a  land  of  exile,  which  every  one  was 
eager  to  quit.  Artisans,  traders,  laboiu'ers,  abandoned  the 
occupations  by  which  they  subsisted  ;  barons  and  lords  even 
renounced  the  domains  of  their  fathers.  The  lands,  the 
cities,  the  castles  for  which  they  had  but  of  late  been  at 
war,  all  at  once  lost  their  value  in  the  eyes  of  their  pos- 
sessors, and  were  given  up,  for  small  sums,  to  those  whom  the 
grace  of  God  had  not  touched,  and  who  were  not  called  to 
the  happiness  of  visiting  the  holy  places  and  conquering  the 
East. 

Contemporary  authors  relate  several  miracles  which 
assisted  in  heating  the  minds  of  the  multitude.  Stars  fell 
from  the  firmament ;  traces  of  blood  were  seen  in  the 
heavens  ;  cities,  armies,  and  knights  decorated  with  the 
cross,  were  pictured  in  the  clouds.  The  monk  E-oberfc 
asserts  that  on  the  very  day  on  which  the  council  of 
Clermont  determined  on  the  holy  war,  that  decision  was 
proclaimed  beyond  the  seas.  "  This  news,"  adds  he, 
"raised  the  courage  of  the  Christians  in  the  East,  and 
caused  despair  among  the  nations  of  Arabia."  As  the  most 
effective  of  prodigies,  saints  and  kings  of  preceding  ages 
were  said  to  have  issued  from  their  tombs,  and  many 
Erenchmen  declared  they  had  seen  the  shade  of  Charle- 
magne exhorting  the  Christians  to  fight  against  the  Mus- 
sulmans. 

AVe  will  not  relate  all  the  other  miracles  reported  by  his- 
torians, which  were  believed  in  an  age  in  which  nothing  was 
more  common  than  prodigies,  in  which,  according  to  the 
remark  of  Eleury,  the  taste  for  the  wonderful  prevailed 
greatly  over  that  for  the  true.  The  readers  of  this  history 
will  find  quite  enough  of  extraordinary  things  in  the  descrip- 

of  Chartres,  relates  that  a  vessel  laden  with  Crusaders  having  been 
wrecked  on  the  coast  of  Brundusiura,  all  the  shipwrecked  bodies  appeared 
with  a  kind  of  cross  imprinted  on  their  flesh,  and  on  the  very  part  on 
which  it  had  been  worn  on  their  clothes  when  they  were  alive. 


58  mSTOET    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

tion  of  so  many  great  events,  for  Tv-hich  the  moral  world, 
and  even  nature  herself  seemed  to  have  interrupted  their 
laws.  AVhat  prodia^y,  in  fact,  can  more  astonish  the  philo- 
sopher, than  to  see  Eui'ope,  which  may  be  said  to  have  been 
agitated  to  its  very  foundations,  move  all  at  once,  and  like  a 
single  man,  march  in  arms  towards  the  East  ? 

The  council  of  Clermont,  which  was  held  in  the  month  of 
November,  1095,  had  fixed  the  departiu-e  of  the  Crusaders 
for  the  festival  of  the  Assumption  of  the  following  year. 
Diuing  the  winter  nothing  was  thought  of  but  preparations 
for  the  voyage  to  the  Holy  Land ;  every  other  care,  every 
other  labour  was  suspended  in  the  cities  and  the  plaius. 
In  the  midst  of  the  general  excitement,  the  religion,  which 
animated  all  hearts,  watched  over  public  order.  All  at  once 
there  was  no  more  robbery  or  brigandage  heard  of*  The 
AYest  was  silent,  to  employ  an  expression  from  the  Scripture, 
and  Europe  enjoyed  during  several  months  a  peace  that  it 
had  never  before  known. 

Thev  who  had  taken  the  cross  encourao^ed  each  other, 
and  addressed  letters  and  sent  ambassadors  to  hasten  their 
departure.  The  benedictions  of  the  heavens  appeared  to  be 
promised  to  those  who  should  be  first  ready  to  march  to 
Jerusalem.  Men  even,  who  at  the  first  had  found  fault 
with  the  delirium  of  the  crusade,  accused  themselves  of 
inditference  for  the  cause  of  relisnon,  and  showed  no  less 
fervour  than  those  who  had  given  the  example.  All  were 
eager  to  sell  their  possessions,  but  could  find  no  piu'chasers. 
The  Crusaders  despised  everything  they  could  not  carry 
with  them ;  the  productions  of  the  earth  were  sold  at  a  low 
price,  which  all  at  once  brought  back  abimdance  even  in  the 
midst  of  scarcity. 

As  soon  as  the  spring  appeared,  nothing  could  restrain 

*  Erai  eo  ternpore  antequam  gentium  fieret  tanta  profeciio,  maxima 
ad  invicem  hostilitatibus  iotius  Francorum  regni  facta  turbatio  ;  crebra 
vbique  latrocinia,  rianon  obsessio,  passim  audiebantur,  immo  fiebant 
incendia  infinita — Max  ergo  et  mira  et  incredibili,  ob  insperabilitatem, 
animorum  immutaiione  commoti,  signumpontijicis  prcBceptione  indicium, 
cruces  videlicet,  ab  episcopis  et  presbyteris  sibi  precantur  imponi,  et 
siciifi  rapidissimi  venti  impetus  solet  non  magna  pluvicE  undd  restringi ; 
ita  iUico  contigit  ad  inricem  simultates  tiniversarum  et  bella  sopiri,  per 
inditam  sibi  aspirationem,  haud  dubium  quin  Chrisii. — Guxbert,  Abb. 
lib   i.  ch.  7. 


niSTORT    OF   THE    CRUSADES.  59 

the  impatience  of  the  Crusaders,  and  tliey  set  forward  on 
their  march  to  the  phices  at  which  they  were  to  assemble. 
The  greater  number  went  on  foot ;  some  horsemen  appeared 
amongst  the  multitude ;  a  great  many  travelled  in  cars ; 
they  were  clothed  in  a  variety  of  manners,  and  armed,  in 
the  same  way,  with   lances,    swords,   javelins,    iron   clubs, 
&c.  &c.     The  crowd  of  Crusaders  presented  a  whimsical  and 
confused  mixtui^e  of  all  ranks  and  all  conditions ;  women 
appeared  in  arms  in  the  midst  of  warriors,  prostitution  not 
being  forgotten  among  the  austerities  of  penitence.     Old 
age  was  to  be  seen  with  infancy,  opulence  next  to  misery ; 
the  helmet  was  confounded  with  the  frock,  the  mitre  with 
the  sword.     Around  cities,  around  fortresses,  in  the  plains, 
upon  the  mountains,  were  raised  tents  and  pavilions  ;  every- 
where was  displayed  a  preparation  for  war  and  festivity. 
Here  was  heard  the  sound  of  arms  or  the  braying  of  trum- 
pets ;  whilst  at  a  short  distance  the  air  was  filled  with  psalms 
and  spiritual  songs.     From  the  Tiber  to  the  ocean,  and  from 
the  Ehine  to  the  other  side  of  the  Pyrenees,  nothmg  was  to 
be  seen  but  troops  of  men  marked  with  the  cross,  who  swore 
to  exterminate  the  Saracens,  and  were  chantmg  their  songs 
of  conquest  beforehand.     On  all  parts  resounded  the  war- 
cry  of  the  Crusaders — •"  It  is  the  ivill  of  God  !  It  is  the  will 
of  God  r 

Fathers  themselves  conducted  their  children,  and  made 
them  swear  to  conquer  or  die  for  Jesus  Christ.  Warriors 
tore  themselves  from  the  arms  of  their  wives  and  from  their 
families,  promising  to  return  victorious.  Women  or  old 
men,  whose  weakness  was  left  without  support,  accompanied 
their  sons  or  their  husbands  to  the  nearest  city,  and  there, 
not  being  able  to  separate  themselves  from  the  objects  of 
their  affections,  determined  to  follow  them  to  Jerusalem. 
They  who  remained  in  Europe  emded  the  fiite  of  the 
Crusaders,  and  could  not  restram  their  tears  ;  they  who 
went  to  seek  death  in  Asia  were  fuU  of  hope  and  joy.* 
Families,  whole  villages  set  out  for  Palestme,  and  drew  into 
their  ranks  all  they  met  with  on  their  passage.  They 
marched  on  without  forethought,  and  would  not  believe  that 

*  Tristitia    remaneniibus,    gaudium    aufem    eundbus    erai. —  Fulc, 

Cap.not. 


60  HISTOKT    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

he  Avlio  nourislies  the  sparrow  would  leave  pilgrims  clothed 
with  the  holy  cross  to  perish  with  want.  Their  ignorance 
added  to  their  illusion,  and  lent  an  air  of  enchantment  to 
everything  they  saw;  they  believed  at  every  moment  they 
were  approaching  the  end  of  their  pilgrimage.  The  children 
of  the  villagers,  when  they  saw  a  city  or  a  castle,  asked  if 
tliat  was  Jerusalem?*  Many  of  the  great  lords,  who  had 
passed  their  lives  in  their  rustic  donjons,  knew  very  little 
more  on  this  head  than  their  vassals ;  they  took  with  them 
theii'  hunting  and  fishing  appointments,  and  marched  with 
their  falcons  on  their  wrists,  preceded  by  their  hounds. 
They  expected  to  reach  Jerusalem,  enjoying  themselves  on 
the  road,  and  to  exhibit  to  Asia  the  rude  luxury  of  their 
castles. 

In  the  midst  of  the  general  delirium,  no  sage  caused  the 
voice  of  reason  to  be  heard;  nobodv  was  then  astonished 

* 

at  that  which  now  creates  so  much  surprise.  These  scenes 
so  strange,  in  which  every  one  was  an  actor,  could  only  be  a 
spectacle  for  posterity. 

*  Videres  mirum  quiddam:  ipsos  infanfulos,  dum  ohviam  habent 
qxKsUbet  castella  vel  urhes,  si  hcec  essct  Jerusalem,  ad  quam  tenderent, 
rogitare. — Guibert,  Abb. 


BOOK    11. 


A.D.  1096—1097. 

The  number  of  Christians  who  had  taken  the  cross  in  the 
greater  part  of  the  countries  of  Europe  were  quite  sufficient 
to  form  many  large  armies.  As  these  armies  might  exhaust 
the  countries  through  which  they  had  to  pass,  the  princes 
and  captains  who  were  to  conduct  them  agreed  among  them- 
selves that  they  should  not  all  set  out  at  one  time,  but 
should  pursue  different  routes,  and  meet  again  at  Constan- 
tinople. 

"Whilst  they  were  engaged  in  preparations  for  departure, 
the  multitude  who  followed  Peter  the  Hermit  in  his  preach- 
ings, became  impatient  to  advance  before  the  other  Cru- 
saders ;  and  being  without  a  chief,  they  cast  their  eyes  upon 
him  whom  they  considered  as  an  envoy  from  heaven.  They 
chose  Peter  for  their  general ;  the  cenobite,  deceived  by  the 
excess  of  his  zeal,  believed  that  enthusiasm  could  alone 
answer  for  all  the  successes  of  war,  and  that  it  woidd  be 
easy  to  conduct  an  undisciplined  troop  which  had  taken  up 
arms  at  the  sound  of  his  voice.  He  yielded  to  the  prayers 
of  the  multitude,  and,  clothed  in  his  woollen  mantle,  a  hood 
over  his  head,  sandals  on  his  feet,  and  only  mounted  on  the 
mule  upon  which  he  had  traversed  Europe,  he  took  upon 
himself  the  command.  His  troop,  which  set  out  from  the 
banks  of  the  Meuse  and  Moselle,  proceeded  towards  G-er- 
many,  and  was  increased  upon  the  road  by  a  vast  number  of 
pilgrims  hastening  from  Cliamxpagne,  Burgundy,  and  other 
parts  of  Prance.  Peter  soon  saw  from  eighty  to  a  hundred 
thousand  men  under  his  standard.  These  first  Crusaders, 
dragging  in  their  train  women,  children,  old  men,  and 
numerous  sick,  began  their  march  upon  the  faith  of  the 
miraculous  promises  made  them  by  their  general ;  in  the 
persuasion  they  were  filled  with,  that  God  himself  called 
upon  them  to  defend  his  cause,  they  hoped  that  rivers 
would  open  before  their  battalions,  and  that  manna  would 
fall  from  heaven  to  feed  them.  The  army  of  Peter  tlie 
Hermit  was  divided  into  two  bodies  ;  the  vanguard  marched 


62  •    niSTOET    OF    THE    CEIJSADES. 

under  tlie  orders  of  ^^alter  tTie  Penniless,*  whose  surname, 
preserved  by  history,  proves  that  the  chiefs  were  as  miserable 
as  the  soldiers.  This  vanguard  only  reckoned  eight  horse- 
men ;  all  the  rest  went  to  the  conquest  of  the  East  asking 
charity  bv  the  way.  As  long  as  the  Crusaders  were  upon 
the  French  territorv,  the  charity  of  the  faithful  who  were 
on  their  route  pro^^.ded  for  their  wants.  They  warmed  the 
zeal  of  the  Grermans,  amongst  whom  the  crusade  had  not 
been  preached.  Their  troop,  which  was  considered  every- 
where as  the  people  of  Grod,  met  vriih  no  enemies  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ehine ;  but  new  Amalekites,  the  Hungarians 
and  the  Bulgarians,  awaited  them  on  the  shores  of  the 
Morava  and  the  Danube. 

The  Hungarians,  who  had  issued  from  Tartary,  had  a 
common  origin  with  the  Tiuks,  and,  like  them,  had  ren- 
dered themselves  formidable  to  the  Christians.  In  the  tenth 
century  they  had  invaded  Pannonia,  and  carried  the  ravages 
of  war  into  the  richest  coiuitries  of  Europe.  !Xations  ter- 
rified at  the  progress  of  their  arms,  considered  them  as 
a  scoui'ge  which  Avas  sent  as  a  forerunner  of  the  end  of  the 
world.  Towards  the  middle  of  the  eleventh  century  they 
embraced  the  Christianity  they  had  persecuted.  Once 
obedient  to  the  faith  of  the  Gospel,  they  began  to  build 
cities  and  cultivate  their  land  ;  they  felt  what  it  was  to  have 
a  country,  and  ceased  to  be  the  terror  of  their  neighbours. 
At  the  period  of  the  first  crusade,  the  Hungarians  boasted 
of  having  a  saint  among  their  kings,t  but,  still  separated 
from  the  Christian  republic  by  their  position,  they  did  not 
at  all  partake  of  the  fervour  of  the  Crusaders,  and  looked  on 
Avith  indifference  at  the  preparations  of  Europe  for  the 
conquest  of  Asia. 

The  Bulgarians,  who  were  descended  from  the  ancient 

*  William  of  Tyre  tells  us  that  "Walter  had  exchanged  his  fortune  for 
the  name  by  which  he  is  known.  Latin  historians  designate  him  sine 
habere,  sine pecunid ;  the  old  French  chronicles  call  him,  senz  avehor, 
senz-aveir ;  the  English  writers  term  him  the  penniless.  Walter  was  a 
Burgnndian  gentleman.  Some  historians  say  that  an  uncle  of  Walter  the 
Penniless  was  first  named  lieutenant  to  Peter,  and  that  the  latter  had  not 
the  command  till  after  the  death  of  his  uncle,  who  died  just  as  the 
pilgrims  entered  the  territories  of  the  Bulgarians. 

t  St.  Stephen  had  been  king  of  Hungary  before  Coloman,  who  reigned 
at  the  time  of  the  first  crusade. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  63 

people  of  tlie  Sclaves,  liad  by  turns  protected  and  ravaged 
the  empire  of  Constantinople.  Their  warriors  had  killed 
Nicephorus  in  battle,  and  the  skull  of  an  emperor,  enchased 
in  gold,  served  for  a  long  time  as  a  cup  for  their  chiefs  in 
the  orgies  of  victory.  They  were  afterwards  conquered  by 
Basil,  who  put  out  the  eyes  of  fifteen  thousand  of  his 
prisoners,  and  by  this  act  of  barbarity  roused  the  whole 
nation  against  Greece.  At  the  time  of  the  crusade,  Bul- 
garia was  under  the  power  of  the  Greek  empire,  but  it 
despised  the  laws  and  the  power  of  its  masters.  The  Bid- 
garian  people  spread  along  the  southern  banks  of  the 
Danube,  in  the  midst  of  inaccessible  forests,  preserved  their 
savage  independence,  and  only  recognized  the  emperors  of 
the  East  when  they  saw  their  armies.  Although  they  had 
embraced  Christianity,  the  Bulgarians  did  not  consider  the 
Christians  as  their  brothers ;  they  neither  respected  the 
laws  of  nations  nor  the  rights  of  hospitality,  and  during  the 
eleventh  centiu-y  they  were  the  terror  of  the  pilgrims  of  the 
West  who  journeyed  to  Jerusalem. 

Such  were  the  people  whose  territories  the  Crusaders 
Avere  about  to  cross,  and  among  whom  want  of  discipline 
must  necessarily  expose  them  to  the  most  direful  reverses. 
"VVhien  the  vanguard  entered  Hungary,  they  were  only  dis- 
turbed in  their  march  but  by  a  few  insults,  which  Walter 
had  the  prudence  not  to  avenge  ;  but  the  resignation  of  the 
pilgrims  could  not  hold  out  long  against  the  misery  which 
every  day  increased.  Want  and  its  attendant  e-sols  soon 
dispersed  all  the  sentiments  of  moderation  to  which  reli- 
gion had  for  a  moment  given  birth  in  the  hearts  of  its 
defenders.  The  governor  of  Bulgaria  not  having  been  able 
to  furnish  provisions,  they  spread  themselves  about  over  the 
country,  carried  off  the  flocks,  burnt  the  houses,  and  mas- 
sacred several  of  the  inhabitants  who  opposed  their  violences. 
The  irritated  Bulgarians  ran  to  arms,  and  fell  upon  the 
soldiers  of  Walter  loaded  with  their  booty.  A  hundred  and 
forty  Crusaders  perished  in  the  midst  of  flames,  in  a  chi^irch 
in  which  they  had  taken  refuge ;  the  rest  sought  safety  in 
flight.  After  this  defeat,  which  he  did  not  endeavour  to 
repair,  Walter  continued  his  march  through  the  forests  of 
Bulgaria,  pursued  by  famine,  and  dragging  along  the  WTeck 
of  his  army.     He  presented  himself  as  a  supplicant  before 


G4  HISTORY    or    THE    CRUSADES. 

the  governor  of  Xissa,  v^ho  was  touched  with  the  misery 
of  the  Crusaders,  and  gave  them  provisions,  arms,  and 
clothing. 

The  soldiers  of  Walter,  tried  hy  merited  reverses,  con- 
ducted bv  a  chief  who  was  wanting  in  neither  skiU  nor 
courage,  became  ap^ain  attentive  to  the  voice  of  religion, 
and  passed  through  Thrace  vrithout  committing  any  dis- 
orders. After  two  months  of  fatisiue  and  miserv,  thev 
arrived  under  the  walls  of  Constantinople,  where  the  em- 
peror Alexis  permitted  them  to  wait  for  the  army  of  Peter 
the  Hermit. 

This  army,  which  was  then  passing  through  Germany, 
was  about  to  be  treated  Averse  than  its  vanguard  had  been. 
The  cenobite  Peter,  more  enthusiastic  than  his  soldiers, 
was  more  sldlful  in  exciting  their  zeal  than  in  directing  it. 
He  showed  neither  the  moderation  nor  the  prudence  of  his 
lieutenant,  and  had  no  idea  how  to  avoid  the  dangers  which 
awaited  him  on  his  route.  On  arriving  on  the  frontiers  of 
Hungary,  he  learnt  the  ill-fortune  that  his  companions  had 
met  with,*  and  the  projects  of  hostilities  formed,  as  he  was 
told,  against  the  army  of  the  pilgrims.  Tlie  bodies  of  seve- 
ral of  the  Crusaders  hung  at  the  gates  of  Semlin,  which  the 
historians  of  tlie  crusades  call  Ma]IeviUe,f  attracted  his 
regard  and  drew  forth  his  indignation.  At  this  sight,  he 
gave  the  signal  for  vengeance  and  war.  The  trumpets 
sounded,  the  soldiers  seized  their  arms,  and  hastened  to  the 
carnage.  Terror  preceded  them  into  the  city.  On  their 
first  attack  the  people  took  to  flight,  and  sought  refuge 
upon  a  hill,  one  side  of  which  was  defended  by  woods  and 
rocks,  and  the  other  by  the  Danube.  They  were  pursued 
and  forced  into  this  last  asylum  by  the  furious  midtitude  of 
the  Crusaders.  ISIore  than  four  thousand  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Semlin  fell  under  the  swords  of  the  conq^uerors.     The 

*  Among  the  small  number  of  knights  in  the  army  of  Peter,  were 
Renaud  de  Bre'is,  Gauthier  de  Breteuil,  Fealcber  d' Orleans,  and  Godfrey 
Burel  d'Etampes. 

t  William  of  Tyre  and  other  Latin  historians  call  this  city  3/<2//e  Villa; 
in  the  tirst  place  because  they  were  ignorant  of  its  proper  name,  and  in 
the  second  because  it  was  fat:;!  to  the  Crusaders.  All  the  French  his- 
torians who  have  spoken  of  the  crusades  have  transiated  Malle  Villa  by 
Malleville. — See  Marsigli,  Danubius  Pannonico,  Mysicus. 


HISTORY    OF    TUE    CKUSADES.  65 

bodies  carried  down  Ly  the  river  bore  the  tidings  of  tliis 
horrible  victory  as  far  as  Belgrade. 

At  this  intelligence  the  Bulgarians  and  Hungarians  were 
seized  with  grief  and  indignation,  and  in  all  parts  flew  to 
arms.  The  Crusaders  still  remained  in  Semlin,  and  were 
glorifying  themselves  upon  their  triumph,  when  all  at  once 
an  army,  assembled  in  haste  by  Coloman,  king  of  Hungary, 
presented  itself  to  their  view.  Peter  had  nothing  to  oppose 
to  his  enemies  but  tlie  soldiers  whose  bliad  fury  he  had 
himself  excited,  and  with  whom  it  was  impossible  to  make 
any  military  disposition.  He  did  not  dare  to  wait  for  the 
army  of  Coloman,  and  hastened  to  cross  the  Morava. 

On  gaiuing  the  territories  of  the  Bulgarians,  the  Cru- 
saders found  the  villages  and  cities  abandoned ;  even  Bel- 
grade, the  capital,  was  without  inhabitants ;  they  had  fled 
into  the  forests  and  mountains.  Peter's  soldiers,  after  a 
painful  march,  in  want  of  pro\dsions,  and  "v^'ith  difficulty 
finding  guides  to  conduct  them,  arrived  at  last  at  the  gates 
of  Nissa,  a  place  sufficiently  well  fortified  to  be  seciu-e  from 
a  first  attack.  The  Bulgarians  showing  themselves  upon 
their  ramparts,  and  the  Crusaders  leaning  on  their  arms, 
inspired  each  other  with  a  mutual  fear.  This  fear  at  first 
prevented  hostilities ;  but  harmony  could  not  last  long 
between  an  army  without  discipline  and  a  people  that  had 
been  irritated  by  Adolence. 

The  pilgrims,  after  having  obtained  provisions,  had  just 
set  forward  on  their  march,  when  a  quarrel  between  the 
inhabitants  and  some  of  the  soldiers  caused  war  to  break 
forth  with  inveteracv.*  A  hundred  German  Crusaders, 
whom  William  of  Tyre  styles  cliildren  of  JBelial,  and  who 
fancied  they  had  cause  of  complaint  agamst  some  merchants, 
wishing  to  avenge  themselves,  set  fire  to  seven  mills  placed 
upon  the  Nissava.  At  the  sight  of  this  fire,  the  inhabitants 
of  Nissa  rushed  from  their  ramparts,  and  falling  upon  Peter's 
rear-guard,  massacred  all  who  fell  in  their  way,  bore  ofi"  two 
thousand  carriages,  and  made  a  great  number  of  prisoners. 
Peter,  who  had  already  quitted  the  territory  of  Nissa,  warned 
of  the  disaster  of  his   companions,  returned   immediately 

*  Consult  William  of  Tyre,  or  still  better,  Albert  d'Aix,  who,  of  all 
the  historians  of  the  crusades,  enlarges  most  upon  these  first  expeditions. 


66  niSTOET    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

-vN-itli  the  "bulk  of  his  armv.  The  eves  of  the  Crusaders, 
on  approaching  the  city,  -were  shocked  everywhere  by  be- 
holding the  most  sorroTvful  spectacle.  They  recognized 
amons:  the  dead  friends  and  brothers,  and  burned  to  revencre 
them. 

The  cenobite,  however,  who  feared  fresh  reverses,  had 
recourse  to  negotiations  and  prayers.  Deputies  were  sent 
into  Xissa,  to  demand  the  prisoners  and  the  baggage  of  his 
armv,  which  had  been  taken  bv  the  Bulo:arians.  These 
deputies  reminded  the  governor  that  they  had  taken  up  the 
cross,  and  that  they  were  going  to  fight  in  the  East  for  the 
cause  of  Jesus  Christ.  They  appealed  to  the  religion  and 
humanity'  of  the  inhabitants  of  Xissa,  whom  thev  called 
their  brethren. 

The  governor,  who  saw  nothing  in  these  peaceful  words 
but  the  language  of  fear,  showed  himself  inflexible  to  their 
prayers.  He  sternly  sent  them  back  to  their  general,  telling 
them  that  the  Crusaders  had  themselves  given  the  signal 
for  the  war,  and  that  he  could  see  in  them  nothing  but 
enemies.  AVhen  this  answer  was  reported  to  the  army  of 
Peter,  ever}'  soldier  was  fii-ed  with  indii]:nation.  In  vain  the 
cenobite  endeavoured  to  calm  their  spirits  and  attempt  fresh 
negotiations ;  they  accused  his  fidehty,  they  suspected  his 
courage.  The  most  ardent  ilew  to  arms  ;  nothing  was  heard 
but  complaints  and  menaces ;  and  no  Crusader  would  submit 
to  any  directions  but  those  of  his  own  angry  will.  AVhilst 
Peter  was  conferring  Avith  the  governor  of  Xissa,  two  thou- 
sand soldiers  approached  the  ramparts,  and  endeavoured  to 
scale  them.  They  were  repulsed  by  the  Bulgarians,  and 
supported  by  a  p^reat  number  of  their  companions.  The 
fight  became  general,  and  the  fire  of  carnage  blazed  on  all 
parts  around  the  chiefs,  who  were  still  speaking  of  conditions 
of  peace.  In  vain  the  hermit  had  recourse  to  supplications, 
to  stop  the  mad  progress  of  his  soldiers,  in  vain  he  placed 
himself  between  the  combatants ;  his  voice,  so  well  known 
to  the  Crusaders,  was  lost  in  the  din  of  arms.  They  braved 
liis  authority ;  they  despised  his  prayers.  His  army,  which 
fought  Tsithout  order  and  without  leaders,  was  routed  and 
cut  to  pieces.  The  women,  the  children,  who  followed  the 
Crusaders,  their  horses,  their  camp  equipages,  the  chest  of 
the  army,  which  contained  the  numerous  oflerings  of  the 


HISTORY    or    THE    CRUSADES.  67 

faithful,  all  became  tlie  prey  of  an  enemy  whose  fury  and 
vengeance  nothing  could  stop. 

The  hermit  Peter,  with  the  wreck  of  his  troop,  took 
refuge  on  a  hill  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  city.  He 
passed  the  night  in  alarms,  deploring  his  defeat,  and  the  sad 
effects  of  the  violences  of  which  he  had  himself  given  the 
signal  and  the  example  among  the  Hungarians.  He  had 
around  him  no  more  than  five  hundred  men.  The  trumpets 
and  the  clarions  were  sounded  without  ceasing,  to  recall 
those  who  had  escaped  the  carnage,  and  had  lost  themselves 
in  their  flight. 

Whether  it  was  that  the  Crusaders  could  find  no  safety 
but  under  their  own  standards,  or  whether  they  were  still 
mindful  of  their  oath,  none  turned  back  from  the  crusade. 
On  the  day  following  their  defeat,  seven  thousand  fugitives 
came  to  rejoin  their  general.  A  few  days  after,  Peter 
mustered  beneath  his  command  thirty  thousand  combatants. 
All  the  rest  had  perished  in  the  battle  fought  under  the  walls 
of  Nissa.  The  army  of  the  Crusaders,  reduced  to  a  deplora- 
ble condition,  sought  no  opportunity  of  avenging  their 
defeat,  but  marched  with  melancholy  steps  towards  the 
frontiers  of  Thrace.  They  were  without  the  means  either  of 
subsisting  or  fighting.  They  had  to  fear  a  fresh  defeat  if 
they  encountered  the  Bulgarians,  and  all  the  horrors  of 
famine  if  they  came  to  a  desert  country.  Misfortune  ren- 
dered them  more  docile,  and  inspired  them  with  sentiments 
of  moderation.  The  pity  which  their  misery  excited  was 
more  serviceable  to  them  than  the  terror  which  they  had 
wished  to  create.  "Wlien  they  ceased  to  be  an  object  of 
di'ead,  assistance  was  afforded  them.  When  they  entered 
the  territories  of  Thrace,  the  Greek  emperor  sent  deputies 
to  complain  of  their  disorders,  but  at  the  same  time  to 
announce  his  clemency.  Peter,  who  dreaded  new  disasters, 
wept  with  joy  when  he  learnt  that  he  had  found  favour  with 
Alexis.  Pull  of  confidence  and  hope,  he  pui^sued  his  march, 
and  the  Crusaders,  carrying  palms  in  their  hands,  arrived 
without  further  obstacles  under  the  walls  of  Constantinople. 

The  Grreeks,  who  entertained  no  love  for  the  Latins,  were 
more  prodigal  and  kind  in  the  assistance  they  afforded  them 
from  finding  them  less  formidable.  They  secretly  applauded 
the  courage  of  the  Bulgarians,  and  contemplated  with  com- 

VoL.  I.— 5 


68  HISTOET    or    THE    CBUSADES. 

placencY  the  ^an-iors  of  the  "West  covered  v,it\i  the  rags  of 
iudigence.  The  emperor  was  desirous  of  seeing  the  extra- 
ordinarv  man  who  had  roused  the  western  world  bt  liis 
eloquence,  and  Peter  was  admitted  to  an  audience  of  Alexis. 
In  the  presence  of  all  his  court,  the  emperor  extolled  the 
zeal  of  the  preacher  of  the  crusade ;  and  as  he  had  nothing 
to  fear  from  the  ambition  of  a  hermit,  he  loaded  him  with 
presents,  caused  arms,  money,  and  provisions  to  be  distri- 
buted amons:  his  armv,  and  advised  him  to  defer  the  com- 
raencement  of  the  war  to  the  amval  of  the  princes  and 
illustrious  captains  who  had  assumed  the  cross. 

This  advice  was  salutarv.  but  the  most  renowned  heroes 
of  the  crusade  were  not  yet  ready  to  leave  Europe ;  they 
were  to  be  preceded  by  fresh  troops  of  Crusaders,  who, 
marching  without  forethought  and  without  discipline  in  the 
steps  of  tlie  army  of  Peter,  should  commit  the  same  excesses, 
and  be  exposed  to  the  same  reverses.  A  priest  of  the  Pala- 
tinate had  preached  the  crusade  in  several  pro^'inces  of 
G-ennany.  At  his  voice  fifteen  or  twenty  thousand  men  had 
taken  the  oath  to  fight  the  infidels,  and  had  assembled  in  an 
armed  body.  As  the  preachers  of  the  holy  war  passed  for 
men  inspired  by  God.  the  people  believed  they  were  obeying 
the  will  of  heaven  in  taking  them  for  chiefs  of  the  crusade. 
G-otschalk  obtained  the  same  honour  that  had  been  conferred 
on  Peter  the  Hermit,  and  was  elected  general  by  the  men 
he  had  prevailed  upon  to  take  arms.  This  army  arrived 
in  Hungary  towards  the  end  of  siunmer.  The  harvest,  which 
was  abundant,  furnished  the  G-ermans  with  a  ready  oppor- 
timity  of  giving  themselves  up  to  intemperance.  In  the 
enjoyment  of  tumultuous  scenes  of  debauchery,  they  forgot 
Constantinople.  Jerusalem,  and  Christ  himself  whose  worship 
and  laws  they  were  marching  to  defend.  Pillage,  violarion, 
and  murder  were  evervwhere  left  as  the  traces  of  their 
passage.  Coloman  assembled  troops  to  chastise  their  license, 
and  to  recall  them  to  a  sense  of  the  maxims  of  justice  and 
the  laws  of  hospitahty.  The  soldiers  of  Grotschalk  were  full 
of  courage,  and,  at  first,  defended  themselves  with  advantage. 
Their  resistance  even  inspired  serious  alarm  among  the 
Hungarians,  who  resolved  to  employ  stratagem  to  reduce 
them.  The  o:eneral  of  Coloman  feimed  to  be  desirous  of 
peace.     The  chiefs  of  the  Hungarians  presented  themselves 


HISTOET    OF    THE    CKUSADES.  69 

in  tlie  cainp  of  the  Crusaders,  no  longer  as  enemies,  but  as 
brothers.  By  dint  of  protestations  and  caresses,  they  per- 
suaded them  to  allow  themselves  to  be  disarmed.  The 
Germans,  slaves  of  the  most  brutal  passions,  but  simple  and 
credulous,  yielded  to  the  promises  of  a  Christian  people,  and 
abandoned  themselves  to  a  blind  confidence,  of  which  they 
very  shortly  became  the  victims.  vScarcely  had  they  laid 
down  their  arms  when  the  chief  of  the  Hungarians  gave  the 
signal  for  the  carnage.  The  prayers,  the  tears  of  the  Cru- 
saders, the  sacred  sign  which  they  bore  upon  their  breasts, 
could  not  divert  the  blows  of  a  perfidious  and  barbarous 
enemy.  Their  fate  was  worthy  of  pity,  and  history  might 
have  shed  tears  over  it  if  they  had  themselves  respected  the 
laws  of  humanity. 

We  are  doubtless  the  less  astonished  at  the  excesses  of 
the  first  Crusaders,  when  we  reflect  that  they  belonged  to 
the  lowest  class  of  the  people,  always  blind,  and  always 
ready  to  abuse  names  and  things  the  most  holy,  Avhen  not 
restrained  by  laws  or  leaders.  The  ci\dl  wars,  which  had  so 
long  disturbed  Europe,  had  greatly  increased  the  number  of 
vagabonds  and  adventurers.  Grermany,  more  troubled  than 
the  other  coimtries  of  the  West,  was  filled  with  men  trained 
in  brigandage,  and  became  the  scourge  of  society.  They 
almost  all  enrolled  themselves  under  the  banners  of  the 
cross,  and  carried  with  them  into  a  new  expedition  the  spirit 
of  license  and  revolt  wdth  which  they  were  animated. 

There  assembled  on  the  banks  of  the  Rhine  and  the  Moselle 
a  new  troop  of  Crusaders,  more  seditious,  more  undisciplined, 
even,  than  those  of  Peter  and  Grotschalk.  They  had  been  told 
that  the  crusade  procured  the  forgiveness  of  all  sins ;  and 
in  this  persuasion  they  committed  the  greatest  crimes  with 
security.  Animated  by  a  fanatical  pride,  they  believed 
themselves  entitled  to  despise  and  ill-treat  all  who  did  not 
join  in  the  holy  expedition.  The  war  they  were  about  to 
wage  appeared  to  them  so  agreeable  to  God,  and  they  thought 
by  it  to  render  such  a  signal  service  to  the  Church,  that  all 
the  wealtli  of  the  earth  would  be  scarcely  sufficient  to  pay 
them  for  their  devotion.  Everything  which  fell  into  their 
hands  appeared  a  conquest  over  the  infidels,  and  became  the 
just  reward  of  their  labours. 

No  captain  durst  place  himself  at  the  head  of  this  fero- 


70  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

cious  troop  ;*  they  wandered  on  in  disorder,  and  obeyed  none 
but  those  Avho  partook  their  wild  delirium,  A  priest  named 
Yolkmar,  and  a  Count  Emicio,  who  thought  to  expiate  the 
wildness  of  his  vouth  bv  the  excess  of  his  fanaticism,  at- 
tracted,  by  their  declamations,  the  attention  and  confidence 
of  the  new  Crusaders.  These  two  chiefs  were  astonished 
that  people  should  go  so  far  to  make  war  upon  the  Mussul- 
mans, who  kept  up  under  their  o^ti  law  the  tomb  of  Jesus 
Christ,  whilst  they  left  in  peace  a  nation  which  had  crucified 
its  God,  To  inflame  men's  passions  still  more,  they  took  care 
to  make  heaven  speak,  and  to  support  their  opinions  by  mira- 
culous -sisions.  The  people,  for  whom  the  Jews  were  ever}'- 
where  an  object  of  hatred  and  hon-or,  had  already  shown 
themselves  but  too  ready  to  persecute  them.  Commerce, 
which  they  almost  alone  carried  on,  had  placed  in  their  hands 
a  great  part  of  the  gold  then  circulating  in  Europe,  The 
si2:ht  of  their  wealth  necessarilv  irritated  the  Crusaders,  who 
were,  for  the  most  part,  reduced  to  implore  charity  of 
the  faithful  to  procure  the  means  for  undertaking  their 
voyage.  It  is  probable,  lilie\\'ise,  that  the  Jews,  by  their 
railleries,  insulted  the  enthusiasm  of  the  Christians  for  the 
crusade. 

All  these  motives,  joined  to  the  thirst  for  pillage,  lit  up 
the  fires  of  persecution.  Emicio  and  Yolkmar  gave  both 
the  sisrnal  and  the  example.  At  their  voice  a  furious  mul- 
titude  spread  themselves  through  the  cities  of  the  Ehine 
and  the  Moselle,  massacring  pitilessly  all  the  Jews  that  they 
met  with  in  their  passage.  In  their  despair,  a  great  number 
of  these  victims  preferred  being  their  own  destroyers,  to 
awaiting  certain  death  at  the  hands  of  their  enemies.  Several 
shut  themselves  up  in  their  houses,  and  perished  amidst  flames 
which  they  themselves  had  kindled ;  some  fastened  large 
stones  to  their  garments,  and  precipitated  themselves  and 
their  treasures  into  the  Ehine  or  the  Moselle.  Mothers 
stifled  their  children  at  the  breast,  saying  that  they  preferred 
sending:  them  thus  to  the  bosom  of  Abraham,  to  seeino:  them 
given  up  to  the  fury  of  the  Christians,  TTomen  and 
old   men  implored   pity  to    assist   them  to  die ;  all  these 

*  Amongst  this  confused  multitude  were  Thomas  de  Feii,  Cleremhault 
de  Vaudeuil,  Guillaume  Charpentier,  Count  Herman,  &c. 


HISTOET    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  71 

wretcTied  creatures  calling  upon  deatli  as  earnestly  as  otlicr 
men  ask  for  life.  In  the  midst  of  these  scenes  of  desolation, 
history  takes  pleasure  in  doing  justice  to  the  enlightened 
zeal  of  the  bishops  of  Worms,  Treves,  Mayence,  and  Spiers, 
who  raised  the  voice  of  religion  and  humanit}^,  and  opened 
their  palaces  as  so  many  asylums  for  the  Jews  against  the 
pursuit  of  murderers  and  villains. 

The  soldiers  of  Emicio  prided  themselves  upon  their 
exploits,  and  scenes  of  carnage  filled  them  with  exultation. 
As  proud  as  if  they  had  conquered  the  Saracens,  they  set 
out  on  their  march,  loaded  with  booty,  invoking  the  heaven 
they  had  so  cruelly  outraged.  They  were  slaves  to  the  most 
brutal  superstition,  and  caused  themselves  to  be  preceded  by 
a  goat  and  a  goose,  to  which  they  attributed  something 
divine.*  These  mean  animals  at  the  head  of  the  battalions 
were  as  their  chiefs,  and  shared  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  the  multitude,  with  all  those  who  furnished  examples  of 
the  most  horrible  excesses.  All  people  fled  at  the  approach 
of  these  dreaded  champions  of  the  cross.  Christians  who 
met  them  on  their  route  vfere  forced  to  applaud  their  zeal, 
whilst  trembling  for  fear  of  becoming  victims  to  it.  This 
unrestrained  multitude,  without  being  acquainted  with  the 
people  or  the  countries  through  which  they  had  to  pass, 
ignorant  even  of  the  disasters  of  those  who  had  preceded 
them  in  this  perilous  career,  advanced  like  a  hurricane 
towards  the  plains  of  Hungary.  Mersbourg  shut  its  gates 
upon  them,  and  refused  them  provisions.  They  were  indig- 
nant that  so  little  respect  should  be  shown  to  the  soldiers  of 
Christ,  and  deemed  it  their  duty  to  treat  the  Hungarians  as 
they  had  treated  the  Jews.     Mersbourg,t  situated  on  the 

*  Fuit  et  aliud  scelus  detestabile :  in  hdc  congregatione  pedestris 
populi  stulti,  et  vesance  levitatis,  anserem  quemdam  divino  spiritu  assere- 
bant  afflatum,  et  capellam  7ion  mimes  eodem  repletam,  et  has  sibi  duces 
secundcB  via  fecerant  in  Jerusalem,  quos  et  nimium  venerebantur  et 
bestiali  more  his  intendebant  ex  totd  aninii  intentione. — Alb.  Aq.  lib.  i. 
cap.  31. 

t  The  Mersbourg  of  the  Crusaders  is  now  called  Ovar ;  in  German 
XJngarisch-Altenburgh  ;  in  Sclavonic  Stare-Hrady.  It  is  situated  in  the 
marshes  that  the  Leytha  forms  on  its  embouchure  into  the  Danube.  Its 
position  is  such  that  it  is  impossible  to  go  from  Austria  into  Hungary  on 
that  side  without  passing  by  it.  (See  Busching,  Geog.)  The  name  of 
Mersbourg,  which  Albert  d'Ai.x  gives  to  this  place,  is  no  longer  in  use ; 


72  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

Leytha,  a  river  wliicli  floAvs  into  tlie  Danube,  was  defended 
by  marshes.  The  Crusaders  crossed  the  river,  cut  down  a 
forest,  and  formed  a  causeway,  which  conducted  them  close 
under  the  walls  of  the  place.  After  some  preparation  the 
signal  was  given,  the  ladders  were  raised  against  the  ram- 
parts, and  the  general  assault  was  begun.  The  besieged 
opposed  a  spirited  resistance,  and  showered  upon  their 
enemies  a  tempest  of  darts  and  arrows,  with  torrents 
of  boiling  oil.  The  besiegers,  encoiu'aging  each  other, 
redoubled  their  efforts.  Victory  appeared  to  be  about  to 
declare  for  them,  when  suddenl^y  several  ladders  pelded  to 
the  weight  of  the  assailants,  and  dragged  down  with  them 
in  their  fall  the  parapets  and  the  fragments  of  the  towers 
that  the  rams  had  shaken.  The  cries  of  the  wounded,  and 
the  rattling  of  the  falling  ruins,  spread  a  panic  among  the 
Crusaders.  They  abandoned  the  half-destroyed  ramparts, 
behind  which  their  enemies  trembled,  and  retired  in  the 
greatest  disorder. 

"  Grod  him.self,"  says  William  of  Tyre,  "  spread  terror 
through  their  ranks,  to  piuiish  their  crimes,  and  to  accom- 
plish that  word  of  the  wise  man :  '  The  impious  man  flies 
without  being  pursued.'  "  The  inhabitants  of  Mersbourg, 
astonished  at  their  victory,  at  length  quitted  the  shelter  of 
their  ramparts,  and  found  the  plain  covered  with  the  fliers, 
who  had  cast  away  their  arms.  A  vast  number  of  these 
furious  bemgs,  whom,  recently,  nothing  could  resist,  allowed 
themselves  to  be  slaughtered  without  resistance.  Many 
perished,  swallowed  up  in  the  marshes.  The  waters  of  the 
Danube  and  the  Leytha  were  reddened  A^ith  their  blood,  and 
covered  with  their  bodies. 

The  vanguard  of  this  army  met  with  the  same  fate  among 
the  Bulgarians,  whose  territories  they  had  gained.  In  the 
cities  and  the  plains,  these  unworthy  Crusaders  found  every- 
where men  as  ferocious  and  implacable  as  themselves,  who 
appeared — to  employ  the  words  of  the  historians  of  the  times 

but  that  of  Altenburgh,  which  has  succeeded  it,  and  which  signifies  old 
city,  indicates  sufficiently  clearly  a  more  ancient  name  ;  and  the  name  of 
Moiswn,  whicli  other  historians  of  the  crusades  give  to  the  same  place,  is 
still  found  in  the  Latin  and  Hungarian  name  of  the  county  of  Wiesel- 
bourg,  upon  which  this  city  depends ;  Mesony  wanmgye,  Mesoniensis 
Comitatus. 


niSTOKV    OF    TJIE    CRUSADES.  73 

— to  have  been  placed  upon  the  passage  of  the  pilgrims  as 
instruments  of  divine  wrath.  A  very  small  number  escaped 
the  carnage.  Among  the  few  who  found  safety  in  flight, 
some  returned  into  their  own  country,  where  they  were 
welcomed  by  the  scorn  and  jeers  of  their  compatriots  ;  the 
rest  arrived  at  Constantinople,  where  the  Greeks  learnt  the 
new  disasters  of  the  Latins,  with  so  much  the  more  joy, 
from  having  suifered  greatly  from  the  excesses  committed  by 
the  army  of  Peter  the  Hermit. 

This  army,  united  to  that  of  AValter,  had  received  under 
its  standard  an  accession  of  Pisans,  Yenetians,  and  Genoese, 
and  might  amomit  to  about  a  hundred  thousand  combatants. 
The  remembrance  of  their  misery  caused  them  for  a  time  to 
respect  the  commands  of  the  emperor  and  the  laws  of  hos- 
pitality ;  but  abundance,  idleness,  and  the  sight  of  the  riches 
of  Constantinople,  brought  back  to  their  camp,  license, 
insubordination,  and  a  thirst  for  plunder.  Impatient  to 
receive  the  signal  for  war,  they  pillaged  the  houses,  the 
palaces,  and  even  the  chuiThes,  of  the  suburbs  of  Byzantium. 
To  deliver  his  capital  from  these  destructive  guests,  Alexis 
furnished  them  with  vessels,  and  transported  them  to  the 
other  side  of  the  Bosphorus. 

]>^othing  could  be  expected  from  a  band  composed  of  a 
confused  mixture  of  all  nations,  and  the  wrecks  of  several 
undisciplined  armies.  A  great  number  of  the  Crusaders,  on 
quitting  their  country,  had  thought  of  nothing  but  accom- 
plishing their  vow,  and  only  sighed  for  the  happiness  of 
beholding  Jerusalem ;  but  these  pious  dispositions  had  all 
vanished  on  their  route.  "WTiatever  may  be  the  motive  that 
brings  them  together,  when  men  are  not  confined  by  any 
restraint,  the  most  corrupted  gain  the  ascendancy,  and  bad 
examples  constitute  the  law.  As  soon  as  the  soldiers  of 
Peter  had  passed  the  straits,  they  considered  all  they  met 
their  enemies,  and  the  subjects  of  the  Greek  emperor  suffered 
much  more  than  the  Turks  from  their  first  exploits.  In 
their  blindness,  they  allied  superstition  with  license,  and 
under  the  banners  of  the  cross,  committed  crimes  which 
make  nature  shudder.*     But  discord  soon  broke  out  amongst 

*  There  were  in  the  army  of  Peter  the  Hermit,  says  Anna  Comnena, 
ten  thousand  Normans,  who  committed  horrible  excesses  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Nicea.     They  chopped  children  in  pieces,  stuck  others  upon 


74  IIISTOBT    OF    THE    CBrSADES. 

them,  and  retaliated  upon  tliem  all  the  evils  they  had  inflicted 
upon  Christians. 

They  had  established  their  camp  in  the  fertile  plains  which 
border  the  Gulf  of  Xicomedia.  Every  day  parties  strayed 
into  the  neighbourhood,  and  returned  loaded  -with  booty. 
The  partition  of  the  spoil  excited  frequent  quarrels  among 
them.  The  French,  of  an  assuming  and  bantering  character, 
attributed  to  themselves  all  the  success  of  this  commence- 
ment of  the  war,  and  treated  the  Itahans  and  G-ermans  with 
contempt.  The  latter  separated  themselves  from  the  army, 
and  under  the  conduct  of  a  chief  named  Rinaldo,*  advanced 
towards  the  mountains  which  border  upon  Nicea.  There 
they  rendered  themselves  masters  of  a  fort,  whose  garrison 
they  massacred,  and  although  their  troop  was  not  numerous, 
and  stood  in  great  want  of  provisions,  they  were  bold  enough 
to  await  the  army  which  was  approaching  to  besiege  them. 
They  were  not  able  to  resist  even  the  first  attacks  of  the 
Turks,  and  were  almost  all  put  to  the  sword ;  their  general, 
and  some  few  of  his  soldiers,  onlv  saved  their  lives  by 
embracing  the  faith  of  Mahomet,  and  by  taking  a  disgraceful 
oath  to  fi2:ht  ai3^ainst  the  Christians. 

"WTien  the  news  of  this  disaster  reached  the  camp  of  the 
Crusaders,  it  brought  with  it  agitation  and  trouble.  The 
French,  who,  a  few  days  before,  could  not  endure  the  Ger- 
mans and  the  Italians.wept  over  their  tragical  fate,  and  were 
eager  to  march  to  avenge  them.  In  vain  Walter,  who  com- 
•nanded  them,  represented  to  them  that  the  Crusaders  whose 
OSS  they  deplored  had  fallen  ■sictims  to  their  own  imprudence, 
and  that  their  principal  duty  was  to  avoid  their  example ; 
nothing  could  restrain  the  impatience  and  the  blind  ardour 
of  his  soldiers.  The  latter  beheved  that  they  already  saw 
the  Turks  flying  before  them,  and  feared  they  should  not  be 
able  to  overtake  them.     Murmurs  arose  in  the  Christian 

spits,  and  exercised  all  sorts  of  cruelties  against  aged  persons.  (See  the 
Alexiad,  book  i.)  We  have  no  need  to  repeat  our  caution  against  the 
exaggeration  of  Anna  Coranena,  who  is  always  pleaised  with  an  oppor- 
tunity of  accusing  the  Crusaders. 

*  This  Rinaldo,  of  whom  nothing  else  is  known,  except  that  he  was  an 
Italian,  is  the  only  personage  so  called  who  has  any  event  of  importance 
in  the  first  crusade  attached  to  his  name.  Tasso,  who  has  taken  most  of 
his  characters  from  history,  has  borrowed  the  person  and  character  of 
Rinaldo,  in  the  "  Jerusalem  Delivered,"  entirely  from  his  imagination. 


HISTOET    OF    THE    CEI'SADES.  75 

army  against  a  general  wliom  they  accused  of  want  of 
coiu'ao;e,  because  he  foresaw  reverses.  From  murmurs  they 
passed  to  revolt,  and  the  order  for  departure  and  attack  was 
forced  from  him  by  violence.  AValter,  groaning,  followed  a 
headstrong  multitude,  who  marched  in  disorder  towards 
jSTicea,  and  whom  the  Tui^ks  would  soon  punish  for  the 
contempt  ^vith  which  they  had  treated  the  advice  of  their 
leaders. 

The  sultan  of  Nicea,  foreseeing  their  imprudence,  had 
concealed  a  part  of  his  army  in  a  forest,  and  waited  for  them 
with  the  rest  of  his  troops  in  a  plain  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountain.  After  a  march  of  some  hours,  in  a  country 
which  was  unloiown  to  them,  the  Christians  were  unex- 
pectedly attacked  by  the  Turks,  whom  they  beheved  to  be 
in  Hight.  They  formed  in  haste,  and  at  first  defended  them- 
selves  vahantly.  But  the  enemy  had  the  advantages  of 
position  and  numbers,  and  they  were  soon  surrounded  on  all 
sides,  and  completely  routed.  The  carnage  was  horrible ; 
Walter,  who  was  worthy  of  commanding  better  soldiers,  fell 
pierced  by  seven  arrows.  With  the  exception  of  three 
thousand  men,  who  took  refuge  in  a  castle  close  to  the  sea, 
the  whole  army  perished  in  a  single  battle,  and  there  soon 
remained  no  more  of  them  than  a  confused  heap  of  bones, 
piled  up  in  the  plains  of  Xieea,  as  a  deplorable  monmnent 
to  poiut  out  to  other  Crusaders  the  road  to  the  Holy  Land. 

Such  was  the  fate  of  that  multitude  of  pilgiims  who 
threatened  Asia,  and  yet  never  beheld  the  places  they  went 
to  conquer.  By  their  excesses  they  had  prejudiced  the 
whole  of  Grreece  against  the  enterprize  of  the  crusades,  and 
by  their  manner  of  fighting  had  taught  the  Turks  to  despise 
the  arms  of  the  Christians  of  the  West. 

Peter,  who  had  i^turned  to  Constantinople  before  the 
battle,  and  who  had  long  lost  all  authority  among  the  Cru- 
saders, declaimed  against  their  indocihty  and  their  pride, 
and  beheld  in  them  nothing  but  brigands,*  whom  Grod  had 
deemed  unworthy  to  contemplate  or  adore  the  tomb  of  hia 

*  Instead  of  acknowledging  his  fault,  says  Anna  Comneua,  he  laid  it 
upon  those  who  had  disobeyed  his  orders  and  insisted  upon  doing  as  they 
pleased,  calling  them  robbers  and  brigands,  whom  God  had  deemed 
unworthy  of  seeing  and  adoring  the  tomb  of  his  Son. — Alexiad,  lib.  x. 
ch.  8. 


76  IIISTOKY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

Son.  From  tliat  time  it  was  quite  eA'ident  that  tLe  apostle 
of  the  holy  war  possessed  no  quality  to  enable  him  to  act  as 
its  chief.  *  Coolness,  prudence,  inflexible  firmness,  alone  could 
conduct  a  multitude  whom  so  many  passions  impelled,  and 
who  listened  to  nothing  but  enthusiasm.  The  cenobite 
Peter,  after  having  prepared  the  great  events  of  the  crusade 
by  his  eloquence,  lost  in  the  crowd  of  pilgrims,  played 
nothing  but  an  ordinary  part,  and  was  in  the  end  scarcely 
to  be  perceived  in  a  war  that  was  his  work. 

Em^ope,  without  doubt,  learnt  with  terror  and  astonish- 
ment the  unhappy  end  of  three  hundred  thousand  Crusaders, 
whom  she  had  seen  depart ;  but  they  who  were  to  follow 
were  not  at  all  discouraged,  and  resolved  to  profit  by  the 
lessons  which  the  disasters  of  their  companions  had  given 
them.  The  West  soon  saw  on  foot  armies  more  regular  and 
more  formidable  than  those  which  had  been  destroyed  on 
the  banks  of  the  Danube,  and  in  the  plains  of  Bithynia. 

AYhen  describing  their  march  and  their  exploits,  we  are 
about  to  trace  much  nobler  pictures.  Here  the  heroic  spirit 
of  chivalry  will  display  itself  in  all  its  splendour,  and  the 
brilliant  period  of  the  holy  war  \nl\  commence. 

The  leaders  of  the  Christian  armies  which  now  quitted  the 
West  were  ah-eady  celebrated  by  their  valour  and  their 
deeds.  At  the  head  of  the  great  captains  who  commanded 
in  this  crusade,  history,  as  well  as  poetry,  must  place 
Godfrev  de  BouiUon,*  duke  of  the  Lower  Lorraine.  He 
was  of  the  illustrious  race  of  the  counts  of  Boulogne,  and 
descended  on  the  female  side  from  Charlemagne.  From  his 
earliest  youth  he  had  distinguished  himself  in  the  open  war 
carried  on  between  the  Holy  See  and  the  emperor  of  Ger- 
many. On  the  field  of  battle  he  had  killed  Eodolphe  de 
!Rhenfield,  duke  of  Suabia,  to  whom  Gregory  had  sent  the 
imperial  crown.  ^AHien  the  war*  broke  out  in  Italy  for  the 
cause  of  the  anti-pope  Anaclet,  Godfrey  was  the  fiLrst  to 
enter  the  city  of  Eome,  besieged  and  taken  by  the  troops  of 
Henry.    He  afterwards  repented  of  ha^ing  embraced  a  party 

*  Godfrey  of  Bouillon  was  born  at  Baysy,  a  village  of  Wallon  Brabant, 
now  in  the  department  of  La  Dyle,  two  leagues  south-east  of  Nevilles, 
and  not  far  from  Fleurus.  Aubert  le  Mire,  and  the  Baron  Leroy,  in  the 
geography  of  Brabant,  report  that  in  their  time  the  remains  of  the  castle 
in  which  Godfrey  was  brought  up  were  to  be  seen. 


IIISTOllT    or    THE    CRUSADES.  77 

which  Adctory  itself  could  not  make  triumphant,  and  which 
the  greater  part  of  Christendom  considered  sacrilegious. 
To  expiate  exploits  condemned  as  useless  by  the  spirit  of 
his  age,  he  made  a  vow  to  go  to  Jerusalem,  not  as  a  simple 
pilgrim,  but  as  a  liberator. 

Contemporary  historj^,  which  has  transmitted  his  portrait 
to  us,  infonns  us  that  he  joined  the  bravery  and  virtues  of  a 
hero  to  the  simplicity  of  a  cenobite.*  His  prowess  in  fight 
and  his  extraordinary  strength  of  body  made  him  the  pride 
of  camps.  Prudence  and  moderation  tempered  his  valour  ; 
his  devotion  was  sincere  and  disinterested;  and  in  no 
instance  during  the  holy  war  did  he  employ  his  courage  or 
inflict  his  vengeance  but  upon  the  enemies  of  Christ.  Faith- 
ful to  his  word,  Hkeral,  affable,  full  of  humanity,  the  princes 
and  knights  looked  upon  him  as  their  model,  the  soldiers  as 
their  father — all  were  eager  to  fight  under  his  standard.  If 
he  was  not  the  leader  of  the  crusade,  as  some  writers  pre- 
tend, he  at  least  obtained  that  empire  which  virtue  bestows. 
Amidst  their  quarrels  and  divisions,  the  princes  and  barons 
constantly  appealed  to  the  wisdom  of  Godfrey,  and  in  the 
dangers  of  war,  his  counsels  became  absolute  orders. 

At  the  signal  of  the  duke  of  Lorraine,  the  nobility  of 
Prance  and  the  borders  of  the  E;hine  were  prodigal  of  their 
treasures  in  preparing  for  the  crusades.  All  things  service- 
able in  war  mounted  to  so  exorbitant  a  price,  that  the  pro- 
duce of  an  estate  was  scarcely  sufiicient  to  defray  the  equip- 
ment of  a  single  knight.  The  women  despoiled  themselves 
of  their  most  precious  ornaments  to  furnish  forth  their  sons 
and  their  husbands  for  the  expedition.  Men  even,  say  the 
historians,  who  in  other  times  would  have  suffered  a  thousand 
deaths  rather  than  give  up  their  hereditary  domains,  either 
sold  them  for  a  low  price  or  exchanged  them  for  arms.  Gold 
and  steel  appeared  to  be  the  only  desirable  objects  in 
existence. 

Now  appeared  the  stores  of  riches  w^hich  had  been  con- 
cealed by  fear  or  avarice.     Ingots  of  gold,  coined  pieces, 

*  An  anonymous  historian  of  the  crusades,  when  speaking  of  Godfrey, 
expresses  himself  thus  :  Tantum  lems,  nt  magis  in  se  monachum  quam 
militem  figuraret.  Guibert  further  says :  Cujus  mira  humilitas  et 
monachis  jam  imitmida  modestia. —  See  Bongars,  p.  548. 


78  nisTOEY  or  the  ceusades. 

savs  tiie  Abbe  Guibert,  were  to  be  seen  in  beaps  in  tbe 
tents  of  the  principal  Crusaders,  lUie  the  most  common  finiita 
in  tbe  cottages  of  villagers. 

Manv  barons,  having  neither  lands  nor  castles  to  sell, 
implored  the  charity  of  the  faithful  vrho  did  not  take  up  the 
cross,  and  might  hope  to  participate  in  the  merits  of  the 
holv  "war  by  assisting  in  the  equipment  of  the  Crusaders. 
Some  ruined  their  vassals  ;  others,  like  AVilliam,  viscount  de 
]Melun,*  pillaged  the  burghs  and  villages  to  place  themselves 
in  a  condition  to  combat  the  infidels.  Godfrev  de  Bouillon, 
guided  by  a  more  enlightened  piety,  was  content  with 
alienating  his  domains.  AVe  read  in  Eobert  G-aguin  that  he 
permitted  the  inhabitants  of  Metz  to  redeem  their  city,  of 
which  he  was  sttzerain.  He  sold  the  principality  of  Stenai 
to  the  bishop  of  Verdun,  and  ceded  his  rights  over  the  duchy 
of  Bouillon  to  the  bishop  of  Liege  for  the  small  sum  of  four 
thousand  silver  marks  and  a  pound  of  gold,  which  makes  an 
historian  of  the  Crusaders  sayf  that  the  secular  princes 
ruined  themselves  for  the  cause  of  Jesus  Christ,  whilst  the 
princes  of  the  Chm-ch  took  advantage  of  the  fervour  of  the 
Chrisrians  to  enrich  themselves. 

The  duke  de  Bouillon  had  gathered  under  his  standard 
eio:hts'  thousand  foot-soldiers  and  ten  thousand  horsemen. 
He  began  his  march  eight  months  after  the  council  of 
Clermont,  accompanied  by  a  great  number  of  German  and 
Trench  nobles.  He  took  with  him  his  brother  Eustace  de 
Boulogne,  his  other  brother  Baldwin,  and  his  coiLsin  Baldwin 
de  Bourof.  These  two  last,  who  were  destined  one  dav.  hke 
Godfrey  de  Bouillon,  to  become  kings  of  Jerusalem,  held 
then  the  rank  of  simple  knights  in  the  Christian  army. 
Thev  were  all  less  animated  bv  sincere  pietv  than  bv  the 
nope  of  achieving  a  great  iortune  in  Asia,  and  quitted  with- 
out regret  the  mean  possessions  that  they  held  in  Europe. 
vStill  fiuther  were  to  be  remarked  in  the  train  of  the  duke 
de  Lorraine,  Baldwin,  count  de  Hainaut ;  Garnier,  count  de 
Grai ;  Conon  de  Montaigu,  Dudon  de  Contz,  so  celebrated 


*  Abbot  Guibert  speaks  thus  of  William,  viscount  de  Melun  :  Cum 
Jerosolymitayium  esset  agressurus,  iter  direptis  contiguomyn  sibi  pau- 
perum  substantiolis.  profanum  riaiicum  praparavit. — Lib.  W.  c.  7. 

t  Le  Pere  Maimbourg. 


HISTOHY    OF    THE    ClirSADES.  79 

in  tte  "  Jerusalem  Delivered ;"  the  two  brothers  Henri  and 
Godfrey  de  Haehe,  G-erard  de  Cherisi,  Einaldo  and  Peter  de 
Toul,  Hugh  de  St.  Paul,  and  his  son  Engelran.  These 
chiefs  brought  with  them  a,  crowd  of  other  knights,  less 
known,  but  not  less  formidable  by  their  valour. 

The  army  commanded  by  the  duke  of  Lorraine,  composed 
of  soldiers  formed  by  discipline  and  tiied  in  battle,  offered  to 
the  Germans  a  very  different  spectacle  from  the  troop  of 
Peter  the  Hermit,  and  re-established  the  honour  of  the 
Crusaders  in  all  the  countries  they  passed  through.  They 
met  with  assistance  and  allies  where  the  first  champions  of 
the  cross  had  found  nothing  but  obstacles  and  enemies. 
Godfrey  deplored  the  fate  of  those  who  had  preceded  him, 
without  seeking  to  avenge  their  cause.  The  Hungarians 
and  the  Bulgarians,  on  their  part,  forgot  the  violences  com- 
mitted by  the  soldiers  of  Peter,  Gotschalk,  and  Emicio  ; 
they  admired  the  moderation  of  Godfrey,  and  offered  up 
vows  for  the  success  of  his  arms. 

Whilst  the  duke  de  Lorraine  was  advancing  towards  Con- 
stantinople, Prance  was  raising  other  armies  for  the  holy 
war.  A  few  months  after  the  council  of  Clermont,  the  nobles 
of  the  kingdom  assembled  to  deUberate  upon  the  affairs  of 
the  crusade.  In  this  assembly,  held  in  the  presence  of 
Philip  I.,  who  had  just  been  excommimicated,  no  one  was 
opposed  to  the  war  preached  under  the  auspices  of  the  Holy 
See  ;  no  one  even  thought  of  invoking  policy  either  to  mode- 
rate or  direct  the  passions  which  agitated  Europe.  The 
cabinets  of  princes  were  as  much  infatuated  as  the  multi- 
tude, and  it  may  be  said  that  the  fortune  of  Prance  took 
charge  alone  of  these  great  events,  w*hich,  though  unfor- 
tunate at  first,  afterwards  concurred  to  raise  the  monarchy 
which  had  fallen  into  ruins  under  the  feeble  successors  of 
Charlemagne. 

Towards  the  middle  of  the  tenth  century,  the  chief  of  the 
third  dpiasty  had  consecrated  the  usurpation  of  the  nobles, 
and  to  obtain  the  title  of  king,  had  almost  abandoned  the 
little  that  remained  of  the  rights  of  the  crown.  Philip  L, 
grandson  of  Hugh  Capet,  found  that  his  dominions  extended 
but  little  beyond  Paris  and  Orleans  ;  the  rest  of  Prance  was 
governed  by  the  great  vassals,  of  whom  several  siu-passed 
the   monarch   in   power.     Eoyalty,  the   only  hope  of  the 


80  HISTORY    or    THE    CETJSADES. 

people  against  the  oppressions  of  the  nobles  and  the  clergy, 
was  so  feeble,  that  we  are  at  the  present  time  astonished 
that  it  did  not  fall,  so  numerous  were  the  difficulties  and  the 
enemies  that  surrounded  it  on  all  sides.  As  the  monarch 
was  exposed  to  the  censures  of  the  Church,  it  was  an  easy 
matter  to  lead  his  subjects  to  disobedience,  and  to  legiti- 
matize any  sort  of  revolt,  by  gi^Tug  it  the  colour  of  a  sacred 
pretext. 

The  crusade  removed  far  from  Europe  all  who  could  have 
taken  advantage  of  the  unhappy  situation  in  which  the 
kingdom  was  placed ;  it  saved  the  country  from  a  ci^'il  war, 
and  prevented  such  sanguinary  discords  as  had  broken  out 
in  Germany  under  the  reign  of  Henry  and  the  pontificate  of 
G-regory. 

Such  were  the  considerations  which  might  present  them- 
selves to  the  most  enlightened  men,  and  which  must  strike 
us  more  strongly  than  they  would  the  contemporaries  of 
Philip.*  It  would  be  difficult  to  believe  that  any  one  of  the 
counsellors  of  the  king  of  France  perceived,  in  all  their 
extent,  these  salutary  results  of  the  crusade,  which  were 
recognized  long  after,  and  which  have  only  been  properly 
appreciated  in  the  age  in  which  we  live.  On  the  other  hand, 
they  had  no  conception  that  a  war  in  which  all  the  most 
dangerous  passions  should  be  brought  into  action  would  be 
accompanied  by  great  misfortunes  and  calamitous  disorders. 
Ambition,  license,  the  spirit  of  enthusiasm,  all  so  much  to 
be  dreaded  by  the  country',  might  also  bring  about  the  ruin 
of  armies.  Xot  one  of  the  enemies  of  Philip,  not  one  of 
those  who  remained  at  home,  made  this  reflection.  Every- 
body, as  we  have  already  said,  they  who  were  of  the  party  of 
the  Holv  See  and  thev  who  adhered  to  rovalty,  allowed  them- 
selves  to  be  carried  along  by  the  current  of  events,  without 


*  Nothing  is  more  common  than  to  attribute  the  combinations  of  a 
profound  policy  to  remote  ages.  If  certain  persons  are  to  be  believed, 
the  men  of  the  eleventh  century  were  sages,  and  we  are  barbarians.  I 
feel  it  just  to  report  the  opinion  of  Montesquieu  on  this  subject :  "To 
transport  all  the  ideas  of  the  age  in  which  we  live  into  remote  periods  is 
the  most  abundant  source  of  error.  To  those  people  who  wish  to  render 
all  ancient  ages  modem,  I  will  repeat  what  the  priests  of  Egypt  said  to 
Solon,  '  Oh  Athenians  !  you  are  but  children.*  " — Esprit  des  Lois,  liv. 
XXX.  c.  18. 


« 


HISTOllY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  81 

either  perceiving  the  causes  of  them  or  foreseeing  their  con- 
sequences. The  most  wise  blindly  followed  that  invisible 
destiny  which  orders  the  world  as  it  pleases,  and  makes  use 
of  the  passions  of  men  as  of  an  instrument  to  accomplish  its 
designs. 

In  a  superstitious  age  the  sight  of  a  prodigy  or  of  an 
extraordinary  phenomenon  had  more  influence  over  the 
minds  of  men  than  the  oracles  of  wisdom  or  reason.*  His- 
torians inform  us,  that  whilst  the  barons  were  assembled, 
the  moon,  which  was  in  eclipse,  appeared  of  the  colour  of 
blood.  AVhen  the  eclipse  was  over,  its  disc  was  surrounded 
by  an  unprecedented  splendour.  Some  weeks  after,  says  the 
Abbe  Guibert,  the  northern  horizon  was  seen  to  be  all  on 
fire,  and  the  terrified  people  rushed  from  the  houses  and 
cities,  believing  that  the  enemy  was  advancing,  fire  and 
sword  in  hand.  These  phenomena,  with  several  others, 
were  regarded  as  signs  of  the  will  of  God,  and  presages  of 
the  terrible  war  about  to  be  made  in  his  name.  They  everj^- 
where  redoubled  the  enthusiasm  for  the  crusade.  Men  who 
had  hitherto  remained  indifferent  now  partook  of  the  general 
delirium.  All  Frenchmen  called  to  the  profession  of  arms, 
and  who  had  not  yet  taken  the  oath  to  fight  against  the 
infidels,  hastened  now  to  take  the  cross. 

The  men  of  the  Yermandois  marched  with  the  subjects  of 
Philip  under  the  colours  of  their  count  Hugh,  a  young 
prince  whose  brilliant  qualities  had  been  much  admired  by 
the  coui't.  Proud  of  being  a  brother  of  the  king  of  Prance 
and  the  first  of  the  Prench  knights,  he  distinguished  him- 
self by  his  bravery  and  the  ostentation  of  his  manners.  He 
displayed  invincible  courage  in  the  field  of  battle,  but 
allowed  himself  to  be  too  easily  overcome  by  flattery,  and 
was  wanting  in  perseverance  in  reverses.     Although  fortune 

*  Eo  tempore  cuyn  inter  regni  primates  super  Tide  expeditione  res 
fieret,  et  colloquium  ah  eis  cum  Hugone  Magna,  sub  Philippi  regis  pra- 
sentid,  Parisiis  haberetur,  mense  Februario,  tertio  idus  ejusdem,  tuna, 
ecHpsim  patiens,  ante  noctis  medium,  sanguineo  paulatim  coepif  colore 
velari,  donee  in  cruentissimum  iota  horribiliter  est  converse  ruborem ;  et 
ubi  aurora  crcpvsculo  naturce  redid,  circa  ipsum  lunarem  circulum 
iusolitus  splendor  emicuit.  Quidam  autem  cestivi  diei  vespertind  irruente 
hord,  tanta  aquilonis  plagce  efflagratio  apparuit,  ut  plurimi  e  domibus 
suis  sese  proriperent,  qucerentes  quinam  hostes  provincias  suas  adeo  gravt 
ambusti'jiie  vastarent. — Guibert,  Abb.  lib.  i.  ch.  17. 


82  nisTOEX  or  the  ceusades. 

■^vas  not  too  kind  to  him,  not  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  crusade 
exhibited  more  honourable  and  disinterested  intentions.  If 
he  had  not  merited  bv  his  exploits  the  surname  of  Great. 
which  history  has  given  him,  he  would  have  obtained  it  for 
ha^'ing  only  listened  to  his  zeal,  and  for  ha^'ing  sought 
uothinof  but  glorv  in  a  war  which  offered  kingdoms  to  the 
ambition  of  princes  and  simple  knights. 

Eobert,  siunamed  Courte-hev.se,  duke  of  Xormandy,  who 
led  his  vassals  to  the  holy  war,  was  the  eldest  son  of  Wil- 
liam the  Conqueror.  He  joined  to  noble  quahties  some  of 
the  faults  the  most  reprehensible  in  a  piince.  He  could  not, 
even  in  his  early  youth,  endiu'e  paternal  authority;  but,  dra^vn 
away  more  by  a  desii'e  for  independence  than  by  a  real 
ambition,  after  having  made  war  against  his  father  for  the 
sake  of  reigning  in  Xonnandy,  he  neglected  the  opportunity 
of  ascending  the  throne  of  England  on  the  death  of  AYilliam. 
His  levitA',  his  inconstancv,  and  his  wealoiess,  caused  him  to 
be  despised  both  by  his  subjects  and  his  enemies.  His  pro- 
fusion ruined  his  people,  and  reduced  him,  if  we  may  credit 
the  monk  Oderic  A^ital,  to  a  condition  bordering  upon 
absolute  poverty.  The  historian  I  have  just  quoted  relates 
a  trait,  which,  although  diilicult  to  be  believed,  at  the  same 
time  describes  both  Kobert  and  the  age  he  lived  in.  "  He 
was  often  compelled  to  remain  in  bed  for  want  of  clothes, 
and  frequently  was  absent  from  mass  because  his  nudity 
prevented  him  fr'om  assisting  at  it."  It  was  not  an  ambition 
for  conquering  kingdoms  in  Asia,  but  liis  inconstant,  chivalric 
dispositioD,  that  made  him  assiune  the  cross,  and  take  up 
arms.  The  Xormans,  a  wandering  and  warlike  people,  who 
had  made  themselves  remarkable  among:  all  the  nations  of 
Europe  for  their  devotion  to  pilgrimages,  hastened  in  crowds 
to  his  banner.  As  Duke  Eobert  had  not  the  means  of  pro- 
viding for  the  expenses  of  an  army,  he  pledged  Xormandy 
with  his  brother  "William  Eufus.  AYiUiam,  v»hom  his  age 
accused  of  impiety,  and  M'ho  laughed  at  the  knight  errantry 
of  the  Crusaders,  seized  with  joy  the  opportunity  of  governing 
a  proAince  which  he  hoped  one  day  to  unite  to  his  kingdom. 
He  le^-ied  taxes  upon  the  clergy,  whom  he  did  not  like,  and 
caused  the  silver  plate  of  the  churches  to  be  melted  to  pay  the 
sum  of  ten  thousand  silver  marks  to  Eobert,  who  set  out  for 
the  Holy  Land,  followed  by  ahnost  all  the  nobihty  of  his  duchy. 


HISTOEY    OP    THE    CETJSADES. 


83 


Another  Eobert,  coimt  of  Flanders,  placed  himself  at  the 
head  of  the  Prisons  and  the  Flemings.  He  was  son  of 
Kobert,  sui'named  the  Frison,  ^Yho  had  usurped  the  prin- 
cipality of  Flanders  from  his  own  nephews,  and  who,  to 
expiate  his  victories,  had  performed,  some  time  before  the 
crusade,  the  pilgrimage  to  Jerusalem.  The  yoimg  liobert 
easily  found  soldiers  for  his  enterprize  hi  a  coimtry  where 
everybody  had  borne  arms  during  the  ci\dl  wars,  and  where 
the  people  were  animated  by  the  tales  of  a  great  number  of 
pilgrims  returned  from  the  Holy  Land.  He  exhausted  the 
treasures  of  his  father,  to  embark  in  an  expedition  which 
procured  him  the  reputation  of  a  bold  knight,  together  with 
the  surname  of  "  The  Lance  and  SwonV  of  the  Ch^nstians. 
Five  hundred  horsemen  sent  by  Eobert  the  Frison  to  the 
emperor  iUexis  had  already  preceded  him  to  Constantinople. 

Stephen,  count  of  Blois  and  Chartres,  had  also  taken  up 
the  cross.  He  passed  for  the  richest  noble  of  his  times. 
The  number  of  his  castles  was  said  to  be  equal  to  that  of 
tlie  days  of  the  year.  AVliat  might  be  really  considered  a 
phenomenon  in  the  eleventh  century,  this  prince  loved  and 
cultivated  letters.  He  proved  to  be  the  soul  of  the  councils 
by  his  eloquence  and  his  intelligence  ;  but  he  could  not  long 
together  support  the  fatigues  of  war,  and  he  sometimes  was 
but  timid  in  the  field  of  battle. 

These  four  chiefs  were  accompanied  by  a  crowd  of  knights 
and  nobles,  among  whom  history  names  Eobert  of  Paris, 
Evrard  of  Prusaie,  Achard  de  Montmerle,  Isouard  de  INIuson, 
Stephen,  count  d'Albermarle,  Walter  de  St.  Valery,  Eoger 
de  Barneville,  Fergant  and  Conan,  two  illustrious  Bretons, 
Guis  de  Trusselle,  Miles  de  Braie.s,  Eaoul  de  Baugency, 
Eotrou,  son  of  the  count  dePerche;  Odo,  bishop  of  Bayeux, 
uncle  of  the  duke  of  Normandy ;  Eaoul  de  Gader,  Tve  and 
Alberic,  sons  of  Hugh  de  Grandmenil.  The  greater  part  of 
the  counts  and  barons  took  with  them  their  wives  and 
children,  and  all  their  war  equipages.  They  crossed  the 
Alps,  and  directed  their  march  towards  the  cities  of  Italy, 
with  the  intention  of  embarking  for  Greece.  They  found 
in  the  neighboiuhood  of  Lucca  Pope  Urban,  who  gave  them 
his  benediction,  praised  then'  zeal,  and  offered  up  prayers 
for  the  success  of  their  enterprize.  The  count  de  Verman- 
dois,  after  having  received  the  standard  of  the  Church  from 


84  niSTOEY    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

the  hands  of  the  sovereign  pontiff,  repaired  to  Itoine,  with 
the  other  princes,  to  visit  the  tombs  of  St.  Peter  and  St. 
Paul.  The  capital  of  the  Christian  world  was  then  the 
theatre  of  a  civil  war.  The  soldiers  of  Urban,  and  those  of 
the  anti-pope  Gruibert,  disputed,  arms  in  hand,  for  the  church 
of  St.  Peter,  and  by  turns  carried  off  the  offerings  of  the 
faithfid.  "WTiatever  some  modem  historians  may  say,  the 
Crusaders  took  no  part  in  the  troubles  which  divided  the 
city  of  Rome  ;  and  what  is  still  more  astonishing.  Urban  did 
not  call  to  the  defence  of  his  own  cause  one  of  the  warriors 
whom  his  appeal  had  induced  to  take  up  arms.  Por  the  rest, 
the  spectacle  which  presented  itself  in  the  city  of  St.  Peter 
must  have  been  a  subject  of  scandal  to  the  greater  part  of 
the  Prench  knights.  Some,  satisfied  with  having  saluted 
the  tomb  of  the  apostles,  and  perhaps  cured  of  their  holy 
enthusiasm  by  the  sight  of  the  violences  which  profaned  the 
sanctuary,  abandoned  the  standard  of  the  cross,  and  returned 
into  their  own  country.  Others  pursued  their  march  towards 
Apulia  ;  but  when  they  arrived  at  Pari,  the  winter  beginning 
to  render  the  navigation  dangerous,  they  were  forced  to  wait 
duiing  several  months  for  a  lavoui'able  moment  to  embark. 

The  passage  of  the  Prench  Crusaders,  however,  had 
awakened  the  zeal  of  the  Italians.  Bohemond,  prince  of 
Tarentiim,  was  the  first  who  resolved  to  associate  himself 
with  their  fortunes,  and  to  partake  of  the  glory  of  the  holy 
expedition.  He  was  of  the  family  of  those  knights  who  had 
founded  the  kingdom  of  Xaples  and  Sicily.  Pifty  years 
before  the  crusade,  his  father,  Pobert  Gruiscard  (the  subtle) 
had  quitted  the  castle  of  Hauteville,  in  jSTormandy,  with  thirty 
foot-soldiers  and  five  horsemen.  Seconded  by  some  of  his 
relations  and  compatriots,  who  had  preceded  him  into  Italy, 
he  fought  ^^ith  advantage  against  the  G-reeks,  the  Lombards, 
and  the  Saracens,  who  disputed  Apulia  and  Calabria  with 
him.  He  soon  became  sufficiently  powerful  to  be  by  turns 
the  enemy  and  the  protector  of  the  popes.  He  beat  the 
armies  of  the  emperors  of  the  East  and  the  "West,  and  when 
he  died  he  was  engaged  in  the  conquest  of  G-reece. 

Boliemond  had  neither  less  cunning  nor  less  talents  than 
his  father,  Pobert  Guiscard.  Contemporary  authors,  who 
never  fail  to  describe  the  physical  qualities  of  their  heroes, 
inform  us  that  his  height  was  so  great  that  it  exceeded  by  a 


HISTORY    or    THE    CKIJSADES.  85 

cubit  that  of  the  tallest  man  in  his  army ;  his  eyes  were 
blue,  and  appeared  full  of  passion  and  haughty  pride.  His 
presence,  says  Anna  Comnena,  was  as  astonishing  to  the 
eyes  as  his  reputation  was  to  the  mind.  When  he  spoke,  his 
hearers  believed  that  eloquence  had  been  his  only  study  ; 
when  he  appeared  under  arms,  he  might  be  supposed  to  have 
done  nothiug  but  wield  tlie  lance  and  the  sword.  Brought 
up  in  the  school  of  the  Norman  heroes,  he  concealed  the 
combiuations  of  policy  beneath  an  exterior  of  violence ;  and 
although  of  a  proud  and  haughty  character,  he  could  put  up 
Avith  an  injury  when  vengeance  would  not  have  been  profit- 
able to  him.  Everything  that  could  contribute  to  the  success 
of  his  designs  appeared  to  him  to  be  just.  He  had  learnt 
from  his  father  to  consider  every  man  whose  wealth  or  states 
he  coveted  as  his  enemy ;  he  was  neither  restrained  by  the 
fear  of  God,  the  opinion  of  men,  nor  his  own  oaths.  He 
liad  followed  Bobert  in  the  Avar  against  the  emperor  Alexis, 
and  had  distinguished  himself  in  the  battles  of  Durazzo  and 
Larissa ;  but,  disinherited  by  a  will,  he  had  nothing  at  his 
father's  death  but  the  memory  of  his  exploits,  and  the 
example  of  his  family.  He  had  declared  war  against  his 
brother  Boger,  and  had  recently  compelled  him  to  cede  to 
him  the  principality  of  Tarentum,  when  the  expedition  to 
the  East  began  to  be  talked  of  in  Europe.  The  deliverance 
of  the  tomb  of  Christ  was  not  the  object  that  kindled  his 
zeal,  or  induced  him  to  assume  the  cross.  As  he  had  sworn 
an  eternal  hatred  to  the  Greek  emperors,  he  smiled  at  the 
idea  of  traversing  their  empne  at  the  head  of  an  army  ;  and, 
fidl  of  confidence  in  his  own  fortunes,  he  hoped  to  win  a 
kingdom  before  he  should  arrive  at  Jerusalem. 

The  little  principality  of  Tarentum  coidd  not  supply  him 
with  an  army ;  but  in  the  name  of  religion,  a  leader  had  then 
the  power  of  raising  troops  in  all  the  states.  Enthusiasm 
for  the  crusade  soon  seconded  his  projects,  and  brought  a 
great  number  of  warriors  to  his  standard. 

He  had  accompanied  his  brother  and  his  uncle  Eoger  to 
the  siege  of  Amalfi,  a  flourishing  city  which  refused  with 
contempt  the  protection  of  the  new  masters  of  Apulia  and 
Sicily.  Bohemond,  who  knew  well  how  to  speak  in  proper  sea- 
son the  language  of  enthusiasm,  and  to  conceal  his  ambition 
beneath  the  coloiu's  of  religious  fanaticism,  preached  himself 


86  HISTOKT   or    THE    CETJSADES. 

the  crusade  in  the  army  of  the  besiegers.  He  vrent  among 
the  soldiers,  talking  of  the  princes  and  the  great  captains 
who  had  taken  the  cross.  He  spoke  to  the  most  pious  "war- 
riors of  the  religion  wliich  was  to  be  defended,  and  exalted 
before  others  the  glory  and  fortunes  Avhich  would  crown 
their  exploits.  The  army  was  won  oyer  by  his  discourses, 
and  the  camp  soon  resounded  with  the  cry  of  "  It  is  the  idll 
of  God !  It  is  the  will  of  God  !"  Bohemond  congratulated 
himself  in  secret  on  the  success  of  his  eloquence,  and  tore 
his  coat  of  arms  into  strips,  of  which  he  made  crosses,  and 
ordered  his  officers  to  distribute  them  among  the  soldiers. 
Tliere  now  only  wanted  a  chief  to  command  the  holy  expe- 
dition, and  the  new  Crusaders  came  to  solicit  the  prince  of 
Tarentura  to  place  himself  at  their  head.  Bohemond 
appeared  at  first  to  hesitate ;  he  refused  that  which  he 
ardently  desired;  and  the  soldiers  assembled  around  him 
redoubled  their  solicitations.  At  length  he  seemed  to  yield 
to  their  importimities,  and  obey  their  will.  Instantly  the 
eagerness  and  enthusiasm  became  more  animated  and  more 
general.  In  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time  the  whole 
army  swore  to  follow  him  into  Palestine.  Eoger  was  obliged 
to  raise  the  siege  of  Amalfi,  and  the  happy  Bohemond  gaye 
himself  up  entirely  to  the  preparations  for  his  yoyage. 

A  short  time  after  he  embarked  for  the  coasts  of  Greece 
with  ten  thousand  horsemen  and  twenty  thousand  foot. 
Every  illustrious  knight  of  Apuha  and  Sicily  followed  the 
])rince  of  Tarentum.  ^"ith  him  marched  Eichard,  prince  of 
Salerno,  and  Eandulf,  his  brother ;  Herman  de  Cani,  Eobert 
de  Hanse,  Eobert  de  Soiu-deval,  Eobert  the  son  of  Tristan, 
Bode  de  Chartres,  and  Humphrey  de  ^Nlontaigu.  AH  these 
warriors  were  celebrated  for  their  exploits,  but  no  one 
amongst  them  was  more  worthy  to  attract  the  attention  of 

• 

posterity'  than  the  braye  Tancred.*  Although  he  belonged 
to  a  family  in  which  ambition  was  hereditary,  he  was  fired 
by  no  other  passion  than  a  desire  to  fight  against  the  infidels. 
Piety,  glor}'.  and  perhaps  his  fiiendship  for  Bohemond  alone, 
led  him  into  Asia.    His  contemporaries  admired  his  romantic 

*  Raoiil  de  Caen  has  written,  half  in  prose  and  half  inverse,  the  "Gestes 
de  Tancrede."  (See  "  Thesaurus  Novus  Anecdotorum"  of  D.  Martenne, 
vol.  i.,  or  the  "  Recueil  de  Muratori,"  torn,  ill.) 


HISTORY    OF   THE    CRUSADES.  87 

pride  and  liis  haughty  austerity.  He  jdelded  to  no  supe- 
riority but  that  of  virtue,  with  the  exception  of  occasional 
submission  to  the  power  of  beauty.  A  stranger  to  all  the 
motives  and  interests  of  policy,  he  acknowledged  no  other 
law  but  religion  and  honour,  and  was  always  ready  to  die  in 
their  cause.  The  annals  of  chivalry  present  no  model  more 
accomplished ;  poetry  and  history  have  united  to  celebrate 
him,  and  both  have  heaped  upon  him  the  same  praises. 

The  Crusaders  from  the  southern  provinces  of  France  had 
marched  under  the  command  of  Adhemar  de  Monteil  and 
Kaymond,  count  de  St.  Gilles  and  Thoulouse.  Bishop 
Adhemar  acted  as  the  spiritual  chief  of  the  crusade ;  his 
title  of  apostolic  legate,  and  his  personal  qualities,  earned 
for  him  in  the  holy  war  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the 
pilgrims.  His  exhortations  and  his  counsels  contributed 
greatly  to  the  maintaining  of  order  and  discipline.  He  con- 
soled the  Crusaders  in  their  reverses,  he  animated  them 
amidst  dangers  ;  clothed  at  the  same  time  Avith  the  insignia 
of  a  pontiff  and  the  armour  of  a  knight,  he  exhibited  in  the 
tent  a  model  of  the  Christian  virtues,  and  in  the  field  often 
gave  proofs  of  undaunted  valour. 

Kaymond,  who  marched  with  Adhemar,  had  had  the  glory 
of  fighting  in  Spain  by  the  side  of  the  Cid ;  and  of  con- 
quering several  times  the  Moors  under  Alphonso  the  G-reat, 
who  had  bestowed  his  daughter  Elvira  upon  him  in  marriage. 
His  vast  possessions  on  the  banks  of  the  Rhone  and  the 
Dordogne,  and  still  more  his  exploits  against  the  Saracens, 
rendered  him  one  of  the  most  remarkable  among  the  great 
leaders  of  the  crusade.  Age  had  not  extinguished  in  the 
count  of  Thoulouse  either  the  ardour  or  the  passions  of 
youth.  Hasty  and  impetuous,  of  a  character  haughty  and 
inflexible,  he  had  less  ambition  to  conquer  kingdoms  than  to 
make  every  will  bend  beneath  his  own.  Both  Greeks  and 
Saracens  have  acknowledged  his  bravery.  His  subjects  and 
his  companions  in  arms  hated  him  for  his  obstinacy  and 
\'iolence.  Unhappy  prince,  he  bade  eternal  farewell  to  his 
country,  which  was  one  day  to  be  the  theatre  of  a  terrible 
crusade  preached  against  his  own  family ! 

All  the  nobility  of  Gascony,  Languedoc,  Provence,  the 
Limousin,  and  Auvergne,  accompanied  E-aymond  and  Adhe- 
mar.    Contemporary  historians   name   among  the  knights 


88  HISTORY    or    THE    CRrSADES. 

and  lords  who  bad  taken  tlie  cross,  Heracle,  coimt  de  I'olig- 
nac,  Pons  de  Balazan,  Guillaunie  de  Sabran,  Eleazar  de 
Castrie,  Eleazar  de  Montredon,  Pierre  Bernard  de  Mon- 
taonac,  PaATnond  de  Lille.  Pierre  Ea^nnond  de  Hautpool, 
Gouffier  de  Lastours,  Guillaume  V.,  lord  of  Montpellier, 
Eoo-er,  count  de  Foix,  Eaymond  Pelet,  Seigneur  d'Alais, 
Isard,  count  de  Die,  Eaimbaud,  count  d' Orange,  Guillaume, 
count  de  Perez,  Guillaume,  coimt  de  Clermont,  Gerard,  son  of 
Guillabert,  count  de  Eoussillon,  Gaston,  A^scount  de  Beam, 
Guillaume  Amanjeu  d'Albret,  Ea^^nond,  \'iscount  de  Tu- 
renne,  Ea^^nond.  ^-iscount  de  Castillon,  Guillaume  d'Urgal, 
and  tbe  count  de  Fortcalquier.  After  the  example  of  Adbemar, 
tbe  bishops  of  Apt,  Lodeve,  and  Orange,  and  the  archbishop 
of  Toledo,  had  taken  up  the  cross,  and  led  a  part  of  their 
vassals  to  the  holy  war. 

Eavmond,  count  of  Thoulouse,  followed  bv  his  wife  Eh-ira 
and  his  sons,  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  a  himdred  thou- 
sand Crusaders,  advanced  to  Lyous,  where  he  crossed  the 
Ehone,  traversed  the  Alps,  Lombardy,  and  Frioul,  and 
directed  his  march  towards  the  territory  of  the  Greek  empire, 
over  the  savage  mountains  and  tlirough  the  equally  savage 
nations  of  Dalmatia.* 

Alexis,  who  had  implored  the  assistance  of  the  Latins, 
was  terrified  when  he  learnt  the  numbers  of  his  Hberators. 
The  leaders  of  the  crusade  were  only  princes  of  the  second 
order,  but  thev  drew  with  them  all  the  forces  of  the  "W^est. 
Ajana  Comnena  compares  the  multitude  of  the  Crusaders  to 
the  sands  of  the  sea  or  the  stars  of  the  heavens,  and  their 
innumerable  bands  to  torrents  which  unite  to  form  a  great 
river.f  Alexis  had  learnt  to  dread  Bohemorwi  on  the  plains 
of  Durazzo  and  Larissa.  Although  he  was  less  acquainted 
with  the  courage  and  ability  of  the  other  Latin  princes,  he 
repented  of  ha^Hng  imparted  to  them  the  secret  of  his  "sreak- 
ness  by  asking  their  aid.     His  alarms,  which  were  increased 

*  Consult  tbe  history  of  Raymond  d'Agiles,  chaplain  of  the  count  de 
Thoulouse,  for  the  description  of  this  march  of  the  Qrusaders  of  the 
south  across  a  country  till  that  time  unknown. 

t  An  Armenian  historian  says  of  the  preparations  for  this  crusade, 
"  The  gates  of  the  Latins  were  opened,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  West 
saw  issuing  from  their  countries  armies  and  soldiers  numerous  as  locusts 
or  the  sands  of  the  sea." 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  89 

by  the  predictions  of  astrologers  and  the  opinions  spread 
among  his  people,  became  more  serious  as  the  Crusaders 
advanced  to^Yards  liis  capital.* 

Seated  on  a  throne  from  which  he  had  hurled  his  master 
and  benefactor,  he  could  liave  no  faith  ui  virtue,  and  was 
better  aware  than  another  what  ambition  might  dictate.  He 
had  displayed  some  courage  in  gaining  the  purple,  but  only 
governed  by  dissimulation, — the  ordinary  policy  of  the 
Grreeks  and  all  weak  states.  If  Anna  Comnena  has  made 
an  accomplished  prince  of  him,  the  Latins  have  represented 
him  as  a  perfidious  and  cruel  monarch.  Impartial  history, 
which  alike  rejects  the  exaggerations  of  eulogy  or  satire, 
can  see  nothing  in  Alexis  but  a  weak  ruler,  of  a  superstitious 
character,  led  away  much  more  by  a  love  of  vain  splendour 
and  display  than  by  any  passion  for  glory.  He  had  it  in  his 
power  to  put  himself  at  the  head  of  the  Crusaders,  and 
reconquer  Asia  Minor,  by  marchiug  with  the  Latins  to 
Jerusalem.  This  great  enterprize  alarmed  his  weakness. 
His  timid  prudence  made  him  believe  that  it  would  be  suffi- 
cient to  deceive  the  Crusaders  to  have  nothing  to  fear  from 
them,  and  to  receive  a  vain  homage  from  them  in  order  to 
profit  by  their  victories.  Everything  appeared  good  and  just 
to  him  which  would  assist  in  extricating  him  from  a  position 
of  which  his  policy  increased  the  dangers,  and  which  the 
unsteadiness  of  his  projects  made  every  day  more  embar- 
rassing. The  more  earnestly  he  endeavoured  to  inspire 
confidence,  the  more  suspicious  he  rendered  his  good  faith 
By  seeking  to  inspire  fear,  he  discovered  all  the  alarms  which 
he  himself  experienced.  As  soon  as  he  had  notice  of  the 
march  of  the  princes  of  the  crusade,  he  sent  them  ambas- 
sadors to  compliment  them,  and  to  penetrate  their  intentions. 
In  the  meanwhile,  he  placed  troops  everywhere  to  harass 
them  on  their  passage. 

The  count  de  A^ermandois,  cast  by  a  tempest  on  the  shores 
of  Epirus,  received  the  greatest  honours  from  the  governor 
of  Durazzo,  and  was  led  a  prisoner  to  Constantinople  by  the 
orders  of  Alexis.    The  Greek  emperor  hoped  that  the  brother 

*  Nothing  can  be  more  diffuse  than  historians  upon  the  march  of  the 
different  princes  of  the  crusade  ;  each  body  of  the  Christian  army  has  its 
particular  historian,  which  is  very  injurious  to  perspicuity:  it  is  exceed- 
ingly difficult  to  follow  so  many  different  relations. 


90  HISTOEY   OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

of  the  king  of  France  would  become,  in  his  hands,  a  hostage 
that  might  protect  him  from  the  enterprizes  of  the  Latins ; 
but  he  only  awakened  suspicion,  and  provoked  the  hatred  of 
the  leaders  of  the  crusade.  Godfrey  de  Bouillon  had  arrived 
at  Philippopoh,  when  he  heard  of  the  captivity  of  the  count 
de  Yermandois.  He  sent  to  the  emperor  to  demand  instant 
reparation  for  this  outrage ;  and  as  the  deputies  reported 
but  an  unfavourable  answer,  he  restrained  neither  his  own 
indignation  nor  the  fary  of  his  army.  The  lands  through 
which  they  passed  were  treated  as  an  enemy's  country,  and 
during  eight  days  the  fertile  plains  of  Thrace  became  the 
theatre  of  war.  The  crowd  of  Greeks  who  fled  towards  the 
capital  soon  informed  the  emperor  of  the  terrible  vengeance 
of  the  Latins.  Alexis,  terrified  at  the  fruits  of  his  own 
policy,  implored  the  pardon  of  his  prisoner,  and  promised  to 
restore  him  his  liberty  when  the  French  should  have  arrived 
at  the  gates  of  Constantinople.  This  promise  appeased 
Godfrey,  who  caused  the  war  to  cease,  and  resmned  his 
march,  treating  the  Greeks  everywhere  as  friends  and 
allies. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Alexis  employed  every  effort  to  obtain 
from  the  count  de  Yermandois  the  oath  of  obedience  and 
fidelity,  hoping  that  his  submission  would  lead  to  that  of  the 
other  princes  of  the  crusade,  and  that  he  should  have  less  to 
fear  from  their  ambition  if  he  could  reckon  them  in  the 
number  of  his  vassals.  The  brother  of  the  king  of  France, 
who,  on  an'i^-ing  in  the  ten-itories  of  the  empire,  had  written 
letters  filled  ^-ith  pride  and  ostentation,  could  not  resist  the 
caresses  and  presents  of  the  emperor,  and  took  all  the  oaths 
that  were  requii-ed  of  him.  On  the  arrival  of  Godfrey,  he 
appeared  in  the  camp  of  the  Crusaders,  who  rejoiced  at  his 
deliverance,  but  coidd  not  pardon  him  for  ha\4ng  yielded 
submission  to  a  foreign  monarch.  Cries  of  indignation  arose 
aroimd  him  when  he  endeavoured  to  persuade  Godfrey  to 
foUow  his  example.  The  more  gentle  and  submissive  he'had 
shown  himself  in  his  captrrity,  the  more  strong  became  the 
opposition  and  resistance  to  the  wiU  of  the  emperor  of  his 
companions,  who  had  di^a^vn  their  swords  to  avenge  the  insult 
offered  to  him. 

Alexis  refused  them  provisions,  and  thought  to  reduce 
them  by  famine ;  but  the  Latins  were  accustomed  to  obtain 


HISTOEY   OF    THE    CEUSADES.  91 

all  they  wanted  by  violence  and  Tictory.  At  tlie  signal  of 
their  leader,  they  dispersed  themselves  over  the  surrounding 
country,  pillaged  the  villages  and  the  palaces  near  the 
capital,  and,  by  force,  brought  abundance  to  their  camp.  This 
disorder  lasted  several  davs ;  but  the  festival  of  Christmas 
vras  approaching,  and  the  epoch  of  the  birth  of  Christ 
revived  generous  sentiments  in  the  breasts  of  the  Christian 
soldiers  and  the  pious  Godfrey.  Advantage  was  taken  of 
these  feelings  to  bring  about  peace.  The  emperor  granted 
provisions,  and  the  Crusaders  sheathed  their  swords. 

But  it  was  impossible  for  harmony  to  subsist  long  between 
the  Grreeks  and  the  Latins.  The  Latins  haughtily  boasted 
of  having  come  to  the  rescue  of  the  empire.  On  all  occa- 
sions they  spoke  and  acted  as  masters.  The  Greeks  despised 
the  barbarous  courage  of  the  Latins,  and  placing  all  their 
glory  in  the  refinement  of  their  manners,  believed  that  they 
disgraced  the  language  of  Greece  when  pronouncing  the 
names  of  the  warriors  of  the  "West.  The  rupture  which 
had  for  a  long  time  subsisted  between  the  churches  of  Eome 
and  Constantinople,  increased  the  antipathy  which  the 
difference  of  manners  and  customs  had  given  birth  to.  On 
both  sides  anathemas  were  launched,  and  the  theologians  of 
Greece  and  Italy  detested  each  other  more  than  they  detested 
the  Saracens.  The  Greeks,  who  employed  themselves  in 
nothing  but  vain  subtleties,  had  never  been  willing  to  place 
in  the  list  of  martyrs  those  who  had  died  fighting  against 
the  infidels.  They  abhorred  the  martial  character  of  the 
Latin  clergy,  boasted  that  they  possessed  in  their  capital  all 
the  relics  of  the  East,  and  could  not  understand  what  they 
could  be  going  to  seek  at  Jerusalem.  On  their  side,  the 
Franks  could  not  pardon  the  subjects  of  Alexis  for  not  par- 
taking in  their  enthusiasm  for  the  crusade,  and  reproached 
them  with  a  culpable  indifierence  for  the  cause  of  God.  All 
these  motives  of  discord  and  hatred  provoked  frequent  scenes 
of  violence,  in  which  the  Greeks  displayed  more  perfidy  than 
courage,  and  the  Latins  more  valour  than  moderation. 

Throughout  all  these  divisions  Alexis  constantly  sought  to 
obtain  from  Godfrey  the  oath  of  obedience  and  fidelity; 
sometimes  he  employed  protestations  of  friendship,  some- 
times he  threatened  to  exercise  powers  that  he  did  not 
possess.     Godfrey  braved  his  menaces,  and  placed  no  faith  iu 

Vol.  L— 6 


92  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CiiL  SADES. 

his  promises.  The  imperial  and  the  Latin  troops  were  twice 
called  to  arms,  and  Constantinople,  badly  defended  by  its 
soldiers,  had  cause  to  fear  beholding  the  standard  of  the 
Crusaders  floating  over  its  walls. 

The  report  of  these  serious  quarrels  conveyed  joy  to  the 
heart  of  Bohemond,  who  had  just  landed  at  Diu-azzo.  He 
believed  the  time  was  come  to  attack  the  Greek  empire,  and 
to  divide  the  spoils.  He  sent  envoys  to  Grodfrey,  to  invite 
him  to  take  possession  of  Byzantium,  promising  to  join  him 
with  all  his  forces,  for  the  prosecution  of  this  great  enter- 
prize.  But  Grodfrey  did  not  forget  that  he  had  taken  up 
arms  for  the  defence  of  the  holy  sepulchre,  and  rejected  the 
proposal  of  Bohemond,  reminding  him  of  the  oath  he  had 
taken  to  fight  against  the  infidels. 

This  embass}"  to  Bohemond,  the  object  of  which  could  not 
be  concealed,  redoubled  the  alarm  of  Alexis,  and  made  him 
employ  every  means  to  subdue  the  firmness  of  Godfrey  de 
Bouillon.  He  sent  his  own  son  as  a  hostage  to  the  army  of 
the  Crusaders.  From  that  time  all  mistrust  was  dissipated. 
The  princes  of  the  West  swore  to  respect  the  laws  of  hos- 
pitaHty,  and  repaired  to  the  palace  of  Alexis.  They  found 
the  emperor  surrounded  by  a  splendid  court,  and  entirely 
occupied  in.  endeavouring  to  conceal  his  weakness  under  an 
exterior  of  vain  magnificence.  The  chief  of  the  Crusaders, 
and  the  princes  and  knights  who  accompanied  him,  in  an 
apparel  on  which  shone  the  martial  luxur}''  of  the  West, 
bowed  before  the  throne  of  the  emperor,  and  bent  the  knee 
to  a  mute  and  motionless  majesty.  After  this  ceremony, 
during  which  the  Greeks  and  the  Latins  must  have  afforded 
each  other  a  strange  spectacle,  Alexis  adopted  Godfrey  for 
his  son,  and  placed  the  empire  under  the  protection  of  his 
arms.  The  Crusaders  engaged  to  replace  the  cities  they  had 
taken  belonging  to  the  empire  in  the  hands  of  the  emperor, 
and  to  pay  him  homage  for  the  other  conquests  they  might 
make.  Alexis,  on  his  part,  promised  to  aid  them  by  land 
and  by  sea,  to  fiumish  them  with  provisions,  and  to  share 
the  perils  and  the  glory  of  their  expedition. 

Alexis  considered  this  homage  of  the  Latin  princes  as  a 
victory.  The  leaders  of  the  Crusaders  returned  beneath  their 
tents,  where  his  gratitude  loaded  them  with  presents.  Whilst 
Godfrey  caused  it  to  be  proclaimed  in  his  army  by  sound  of 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  93 

trumpet,  tliat  tlie  most  profound  respect  for  the  emperor 
and  the  laws  of  Constantinople  should  be  preserved,  Alexis 
ordered  all  his  subjects  to  carry  provisions  to  the  Franks, 
and  to  observe  the  laws  of  hospitality.  The  alliance  they 
had  just  made  appeared  to  have  been  sworn  to  in  good  faith 
on  both  sides ;  but  Alexis  could  not  destroy  the  prejudices 
the  Grreeks  entertained  against  the  Latins,  nor  could  Godfrey 
restrain  the  turbulent  multitude  of  his  soldiers.  Besides, 
the  emperor  of  Byzantium,  although  he  might  feel  re-assured 
as  to  the  intentions  of  the  duke  of  Lorraine,  still  dreaded 
the  arrival  of  Bohemond,  and  the  union  of  several  large  armies 
in  the  neighboiu-hood  of  his  capital.  He  engaged  Grodfrey 
to  pass  with  his  troops  over  to  the  Asiatic  shore  of  the  Bos- 
phorus,  and  turned  his  attention  to  whatever  means  his  policy 
could  suggest  to  abate  the  pride,  and  even  to  diminish  the 
powers  of  the  other  Latin  princes  who  were  marching 
towards  Constantinople. 

The  prince  of  Tarentum  was  advancing  through  Mace- 
donia, now  listening  to  the  harangues  of  the  deputies  from 
Alexis,  and  now  contending  with  the  troops  which  opposed 
his  passage.  Several  provinces  and  several  cities  had  been 
ravaged  by  the  Italian  and  Norman  Crusaders,  when  their 
chief  received  an  invitation  from  the  emperor  to  precede  his 
army,  and  come  to  Constantinople.  Alexis  made  Bohemond 
protestations  of  friendship,  in  which  the  latter  placed  no 
faith,  but  from  which  he  hoped  to  reap  some  advantage.  He, 
on  his  part,  declared  his  good  feeling,  and  went  to  meet 
Alexis.  The  emperor  received  him  with  a  magnificence 
proportionate  to  the  fear  he  entertained  of  his  arrival. 
These  two  princes  were  equally  skilled  in  the  arts  of  seducing 
and  deceiving.  The  greater  cause  they  had  to  complain  of 
each  other,  the  warmer  were  their  protestations  of  friend- 
ship. They  complimented  each  other  publicly  on  their 
victories,  and  concealed  their  suspicions,  and  perhaps  their 
contempt,  under  an  exterior  of  reciprocal  admiration.  Both 
luiscrupulous  on  the  subject  of  oaths,  Alexis  promised  vast 
domains  to  Bohemond,  and  the  Norman  hero  swore  without 
hesitation  to  be  the  most  faithful  of  the  vassals  of  the  emperor. 

Eobert,  coimt  of  Flanders,  the  duke  of  Normandy,  and  Ste- 
phen, count  of  Chartres  and  Blois,  as  they  arrived  at  Constan- 
tinople, rendered  their  homage,  in  their  turn,  to  the  Grreek 


94  HISTOKY    or    THE    CEUSADES. 

emperor,  and  received,  as  others  had  done,  the  reward  of 
their  submission.  The  count  of  Thoulouse,  who  arrived  the 
last,  at  first  answered  the  messengers  of  Alexis,  that  he  was 
not  come  into  the  East  to  seek  a  master.  The  emperor,  to 
bend  the  pride  of  Eavmond  and  his  Provencals,  was  obliged 
to  stoop  to  them.*  He  flattered  by  timis  their  avarice  and 
their  vanity,  and  took  more  pains  to  show  them  his  treasures 
than  his  armies.  In  states  in  their  decay  it  is  not  uncommon 
for  wealth  to  be  mistaken  for  power,  and  the  prince  believes 
he  reigns  over  all  hearts  as  long  as  he  possesses  the  means 
of  coiTupting  them.  Ceremonial  was,  besides,  at  the  court 
of  Constantinople,  the  most  serious  and  the  most  import- 
ant of  aU  thing's :  but  whatever  value  mav  be  attached  to 
vain  formula,  we  cannot  but  be  astonished  to  see  warriors 
so  haughty,  who  went  to  conquer  empires,  on  their  knees 
before  a  prince  who  trembled  vrith.  the  fear  of  losing  his  own. 
Thev  made  him  pay  dearly  for  an  uncertain  and  transient 
submission,  and  not  unfrequently  contempt  was  apparent 
through  their  outward  marks  of  respect. 

During  a  ceremony  in  which  Alexis  received  the  homage 
of  several  French  princes,  Count  Eobert  of  Paris  advanced 
to  seat  himself  by  the  side  of  the  emperor.  BaldAvin  of 
Hainaut  pulled  him  by  the  arm,  and  said,  "  You  shoidd 
remember,  when  you  are  in  a  foreign  country,  you  ought  to 
respect  its  customs."  "Truly!"  replied  Eobert,  "this  is  a 
pleasant  cIo^ti  who  is  seated,  whilst  so  many  illustrious 
captains  are  standing!"  Alexis  was  desirous  of  ha^'ing  his 
words  explained  to  him,  and  when  the  counts  were  gone,  he 
retained  Eobert,  and  asked  him  what  were  his  birth  and 
countrv.  '•  I  am  a  Prenchman,"  replied  Eobert,  '•  and  of 
the  most  illustrious  rank  of  nobles.  I  only  know  one  thing, 
and  that  is,  that  in  my  country  there  is  a  place  near  a  church 
to  which  all  repair  who  bum  with  a  desire  to  signalize  their 
valour.  I  have  often  been  there  without  anvbodv  vet  having 
dared  to  present  himself  before  me."  The  emperor  took 
care  not  to  accept  this  kind  of  challenge,  and  endeavoured 
to  conceal  his  sui^^rise  and  vexation  by  giving  some  useful 

♦  The  Crusaders  who  followed  Raymond  are  designated  by  historians 
Provencalex.  This  comes  from  the  ancient  denomination  of  Protincia 
Romana,  or  Provencia  Narhojiensis,  which  comprised  Languedoc, 
Dauphine,  and  Proveace. 


IlISTOKY    or    THE    CllUSADES.  95 

advice  to  tlie  daring  warrior.  "If  joii  waited  then,"  said 
he,  "  without  meeting  enemies,  you  are  now  going  where 
you  ■v^'ill  find  enough  to  satisfy  you.  But  do  not  put  yourself 
either  at  the  head  or  the  tail  of  the  army  ;  remain  in  the 
centre.  I  have  learnt  how  to  fight  with  the  Tiu'ks  ;  and 
that  is  the  best  place  you  can  choose." 

The  "pohcy  of  the  emperor,  however,  was  not  without 
efifect.  The  pride  of  a  great  number  of  the  counts  and 
barons  was  not  proof  against  his  caresses  and  his  presents. 
There  stiU  exists  a  letter  which  Stephen  of  Blois  addressed 
to  Adela  his  wife,  in  which  he  felicitates  himself  on  the 
welcome  he  had  received  at  the  court  of  Byzantium.  After 
having  described  all  the  honours  with  which  he  had  been 
received,  he  exclaims,  whilst  speaking  of  Alexis,  "  Truly, 
there  is  not  at  this  time  such  a  man  beneath  the  heavens  !" 
Bohemond  could  not  have  been  less  struck  with  the  liberality 
of  the  emperor.  At  the  sight  of  an  apartment  filled  with 
riches,  "There  is  here,"  said  he,  "  enough  to  conquer  king- 
doms with."  Alexis  immediately  ordered  these  treasures  to 
be  conveyed  to  the  tent  of  the  ambitious  Bohemond,  who  at 
first  refused  them  with  a  kind  of  modesty,  and  finished  by 
accepting  them  with  joy.  He  went  so  far  as  to  demand  the 
title  of  grand  domestic  or  of  general  of  the  empire  of  the 
East.  Alexis,  who  had  himself  held  that  dignity,  and  who 
knew  that  it  was  the  road  to  the  throne,  had  the  coiu-age  to 
refuse  him,  and  contented  himself  with  promising  the  office 
to  the  future  services  of  the  prince  of  Tarentum. 

Thus  the  promises  of  the  emperor  retained  for  a  short 
period  the  Latin  princes  under  his  laws.  By  his  skilfully-distri- 
buted favours  and  flatteries  he  created  a  spirit  of  jealousy 
among  the  leaders  of  the  crusade,  ^Raymond  de  St.  Grilles 
declared  himself  against  Bohemond,  whose  projects  he 
revealed  to  Alexis ;  and  whilst  this  prince  debased  himself 
thus  before  a  foreign  monarch,  the  courtiers  of  Byzantium 
repeated  with  warmth,  that  he  excelled  all  the  other  chiefs 
of  the  crusade,  as  the  sun  excels  the  stars. 

The  Franks,  so  dreaded  in  the  field  of  battle,  were  power- 
less against  the  skill  and  address  of  Alexis,  and  could  not 
sustain  their  advantage  amidst  the  intrigues  of  a  dissolute 
court.  An  abode  at  Byzantium  might  become  otherv\'ise 
dangerous  for  the  Crusaders ;  the  spectacle  of  the  luxury  of 


96  HISTORY    or    THE    CRUSADES. 

tlie  East,  whicli  tliey  beheld  for  the  first  time,  vras  calculated 
to  corrupt  them.  The  Christian  knights,  according  to  the 
report  of  the  historians  of  the  times,  were  never  vreary  of 
acbiiiring  the  palaces,  the  splendid  edifices,  the  riches,  and 
perhaps  the  heautitiil  Greek  women,  of  whom  Alexis  had 
spoken  in  liis  letters  addressed  to  the  princes  of  the  AYest. 
Tancred  alone,  inflexible  to  all  solicitations,  would  not  expose 
his  ^irtue  to  the  seductions  of  Byzantium.  He  deplored 
the  weakness  of  his  companions,  and,  followed  by  a  smaU 
number  of  knights,  hastened  to  quit  Constantinople,  without 
ha^-ing  taken  the  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  emperor. 

The  departure  and  resistance  of  Tancred  disturbed  the 
joy  which  the  success  of  his  policy  had  given  Alexis.  He 
applauded  himself  for  ha^'ing  softened,  by  his  presents,  the 
principal  leaders  of  the  crusade ;  but  he  did  not  so  entirely 
depend  upon  his  means  of  corruption  as  to  be  perfectly  free 
ii-om  apprehension.  Every  day  brought  new  Crusaders, 
whom  he  must  seduce  and  load  with  presents  ;  the  xery  riches 
he  displayed  to  them  might,  in  the  end,  awaken  their 
ambition,  and  inspire  them  with  most  fatal  designs.  He 
felt  by  no  means  secure  against  their  enter]^)rizes  until  all 
the  annies  of  the  AVest  were  on  the  other  side  of  the  Bos- 
phorus.  There,  "without  the  power  of  insulting  the  capital 
of  the  empire,  they  turned  all  their  attention  to  their 
preparations  for  the  war  against  the  Saracens. 

-:\-S  the  Crusaders  advanced  across  the  plains  of  Bithynia, 
they  saw,  seeking  refuge  in  their  tents,  several  soldiers  of 
Peter's  army,  who  having  escaped  from  the  sword  of  the 
Saracens,  had  lived  concealed  in  the  mountains  and  forests. 
They  were  clothed  in  the  rags  of  niiser\',  and  with  lamenta- 
tions and  tears  related  the  disasters  of  the  first  army  of  the 
Christians.  On  the  east  they  pointed  to  the  fortress  in 
which  the  companions  of  Einaldo,  pressed  by  hunger  and 
thirst,  had  surrendered  to  the  Turks,  who  had  massacred 
them  all.     Xear  to  that  they  showed  them  the  mountains, 

*  -  -  _ 

at  the  foot  of  which  had  perished  "Walter  and  his  whole 
army.  Everywhere  the  Crusaders  encountered  the  remains 
of  their  brethren ;  evers-where  they  found  reason  to  deplore 
the  imprudence  and  disasters  of  the  first  soldiers  of  the 
cross ;  but  nothing  aflected  them  so  deeply  as  the  sight  of 
the  camp  in  wliich  Walter  had  left  the  women  and  the  sick, 


HISTORY    or    TUE    CRUSADES.  97 

wheu  he  was  forced  by  his  soldiers  to  advance  to  the  city  of 
Nicea.  There  the  Christians  had  been  surprised  by  the 
Mussulmans,  at  the  moment  their  priests  were  celebrating 
the  sacrifice  of  the  mass.  Yv^omen,  children,  old  men,  all 
whom  weakness  or  sickness  detained  in  the  camp,  pursued 
to  the  foot  of  their  altars,  had  been  either  borne  away  into 
slavery,  or  slaughtered  by  a  pitiless  enemy.  The  remem- 
brance of  so  great  a  calamity  stifled  discord,  silenced  ambi- 
tion, and  rekindled  zeal  for  the  deliverance  of  the  holy  places. 
The  leaders  profited  by  this  terrible  lesson,  and  laid  down 
useful  regulations  for  the  maintenance  of  discipline.  The 
formidable  armv  of  the  Crusaders  advanced  in  the  best  order 
through  the  country  of  the  infidels,  and  commenced  the 
war  with  the  first  days  of  the  spring. 

Although  the  empire  of  the  Seljoucide  Tiu-ks,  at  the  period 
of  the  arrival  of  the  Crusaders  in  Asia,  ah'eady  inclined 
towards  its  fall,  it  nevertheless  presented  a  formidable 
barrier  to  the  warriors  of  the  AYest.  The  kingdom  of 
Ezeroum,  or  Eoum,  extended  from  the  Orontes  and  the 
Euphrates  to  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Bosphorus,  and 
comprised  the  richest  provinces  of  Asia  Minor.  The  Turks 
were  animated  by  the  double  enthusiasm  of  religion  and 
victory.  Abandoning  the  cares  of  agricultiu-e  and  commerce 
to  the  Greeks,  their  slaves,  they  knew  no  profession  but  that 
of  arms,  or  desired  other  wealth  but  the  booty  obtained  from 
their  enemies.  Their  present  chief  was  the  son  of  Soliman, 
whose  victories  over  the  Christians  had  procured  him  the 
name  of  the  Sacred  Champion.  David,  surnamed  Kilidge- 
Arslan,  or  the  Sicot^d  of  the  Lion.,  brought  up  amidst  the 
troubles  of  civil  war,  and  for  a  long  time  detained  a  pri- 
soner in  the  fortress  of  Kora^an  by  the  orders  of  Malek- 
Scha,  had  ascended  the  throne  of  his  father,  and  main- 
tained his  position  by  his  valour.  He  possessed  a  genius 
rich  in  resources,  and  a  character  not  to  be  subdued  by 
reverses.  On  the  approach  of  the  Crusaders,  he  summoned 
his  subjects  and  his  allies  to  his  defence.  From  all  the 
provinces  of  Asia  Minor,  and  even  from  Persia,  the  bravest 
defenders  of  Islamism  hastened  to  range  themselves  beneath 
his  banner. 

Not  content  with  assembling  an  army,  he  at  first  gave  all 
his  attention  to  the  fortifying  of  the  city  of  Nice,  to  which 


98  HISTOJBY    OS    THE    Cri.USADES. 

the  earliest  attempts  of  the  Christians  would  be  directed. 
This  city,  the  capital  of  Bithviiia,  and  celebrated  by  the 
holding  of  two  councils,  was  the  seat  of  the  empire  of 
Eoum ;  and  it  was  there  that  the  Turks,  as  in  an  advanced 
post,  awaited  an  opportunity  to  attack  Constantinople,  and 
precipitate  themselves  upon  Eiu'ope.  High  mountains 
defended  the  approach  to  it.  Towards  the  west  and  the 
south  the  Lake  of  Ascanius  bathed  its  ramparts,  and  pre- 
served to  the  inhabitants  an  easy  communication  with  the 
sea.  Large  ditches,  filled  with  water,  surrounded  the  place. 
Tlu'ee  hundred  and  seventy  towers  of  brick  or  stone  protected 
the  double  enclosure  of  its  walls,  which  were  wide  enough 
for  the  passage  of  a  chariot.  The  chosen  of  the  Turkish 
warriors  composed  its  garrison,  and  the  sultan  of  Eoum, 
ready  to  defend  it,  was  encamped  upon  the  neighbouring 
mountains,  at  the  head  of  an  army  of  a  hundred  thousand 
men. 

Pull  of  just  confidence  in  their  own  strength,  and  ignorant 
of  that  which  could  be  opposed  to  them,  the  Crusaders 
advanced  towards  Xice.  Xever  had  the  plains  of  Bithynia 
presented  a  more  magniiicent  or  a  more  terrible  spectacle. 
The  numbers  of  the  Crusaders  exceeded  the  population  of 
many  great  cities  of  the  "West,  and  were  sufficient  to  cover 
the  largest  plains.  The  Turks,  from  then*  encampments  on 
the  summits  of  the  mountains,  must  have  beheld,  "^dth  terror, 
an  army  composed  of  more  than  a  hundred  thousand  horse 
and  five  hundred  thousand  foot,*  the  picked  men  of  the 
warlike  nations  of  Europe,  who  were  come  to  dispute  with 
them  the  possession  of  Asia.f 

*  The  contemporary  historians  who  have  spoken  of  the  crusades,  and 
who  have  made  this  enumeration,  had  doubtless  in  their  minds  the  num- 
bering which  is  found  in  Scripture,  which  makes  the  number  of  the 
soldiers  of  Israel  amount  to  six  hundred  and  thirty-three  thousand  five 
huudred  and  fifty.  I  believe  I  ought  to  add  some  passages  from  the 
historians  :  Siomries  qui  de  domibus  mis  egressi  votv.m  jam  iter  ceperani, 
simul  illuc  adessent,  procid  dubio  sexagies  centum  millia  bellatorum 
adessent. — Foulcher  de  Chartres.  Opinioneyn  hominum  vincebat  numerus, 
guamvis  cestimarentur  sejcagies  centum  millia  itinerantium. — Malmesbury, 
book  iv. 

t  Such  might  be  the  character  of  the  hundred  thousand  horse  ;  but  the 
five  hundred  thousand  foot  by  no  means  merited  such  a  description. — 
Trans. 


niSTOEY    OF   THE    CIIUSA.DES.  99 

Wlien  it  had  been  determined  to  besiege  Nice,  tbe  posts 
were  distributed  to  the  various  bodies  of  the  Christian  army. 
The  camp  of  the  Crusaders  extended  over  a  vast  plain,  inter- 
sected by  ri\'ulets  Avhich  fell  from  the  mountains.  Fleets 
from  Greece  and  Italy  transported  provisions,  and  kept  the 
besiegers  in  a  state  of  abundance,  roulcher  de  Chartres 
reckons  in  the  camp  of  the  Christians  nineteen  nations, 
differing  in  manners  and  language.  Each  nation  had  its 
quarters,  which  they  surrounded  with  walls  and  palisades, 
and  as  they  were  without  wood  or  stone  for  the  di\dsions, 
they  employed  the  bones  of  the  Crusaders  lying  unbiu'ied  in 
the  country  round  Nice  ;  "  by  which,"  Anna  Comnena  says, 
"  they  at  once  constructed  a  tomb  for  the  dead  and  an  abode 
for  the  living."  In  each  quarter  they  quickly  raised  magnifi- 
cent tents,  which  served  as  churches,  in  which  the  chiefs  and 
the  soldiers  assembled  to  perform  the  ceremonies  of  religion. 
Different  war-cries,  drums,  the  use  of  which  had  been  intro- 
duced into  Europe  by  the  Saracens,  and  sonorous  horns, 
pierced  with  several  holes,  summonded  the  Crusaders  to 
their  military  exercises. 

The  barons  and  knights  wore  a  hauberk^  or  coat  of  mail,  a 
sort  of  tunic,  composed  of  smaU.  rings  of  iron  or  steel.  Over 
the  coat  of  arms  of  every  squire  floated  a  blue,  red,  green, 
or  white  scarf.  Every  warrior  wore  a '  casque,  covered  with 
silver  for  the  princes,  of  steel  for  the  knights  and  nobles, 
and  of  iron  for  the  common  men.  The  knights  bore  round 
or  square  bucklers,  and  long  shields  covered  the  foot-soldiers. 
The  arms  employed  in  fight  by  the  Crusaders  were  the  lance, 
the  sword,  a  species  of  knife,  a  poniard,  called  misericorde, 
the  club,  the  masse  cVarmes,  with  which  a  warrior  could,  at  a 
single  blow,  strike  an  enemy  to  the  earth ;  the  sling,  from 
which  were  thrown  stones  and  balls  of  lead ;  the  bow,  and 
the  cross-bow,  a  miu-derous  weapon,  till  that  time  "unknown 
to  the  Orientals.  The  warriors  of  the  "West  did  not  then 
cover  themselves  with  that  heavy  iron  armour  described  by 
the  historians  of  the  middle  ages,  which  they  afterwards 
borrowed  from  the  Saracens. 

The  princes  and  knights  bore  upon  their  shields  figures  or 
signs  of  different  colours,  which  served  as  rallying-points  for 
their  soldiers.  Here  might  be  seen,  painted  on  the  bucklers 
and  standards,   leopards   and   lions;    there,   stars,   towers, 

6* 


100  UISTOEY    OF    TJIE    CRUSADES. 

crosses,  Asiatic  trees,  and  European  trees.  Several  caused 
to  be  represented  on  their  shields  the  birds  of  passage  which 
they  had  met  A^dth  on  their  route,  which  birds,  by  changing 
their  climate  annually,  presented  to  the  Crusaders  a  symbol 
of  their  o^tl  pilgrimage.  These  distinctive  marks  at  the 
time  served  to  animate  their  valour  in  the  field  of  battle,  and 
were  destined,  at  a  future  day,  to  be  one  of  the  attributes  of 
rank  among  the  nations  of  the  West. 

In  the  immense  crowd  of  Crusaders,  no  count,  no  prince, 
deigned  to  receive  orders  from  any  one.*  The  Christians 
presented  the  image  of  a  republic  under  arms.  This  republic, 
in  which  everything  appeared  to  be  in  common,  recognised 
no  other  law  but  that  of  honour,  no  other  tie  but  that  of 
religion.  So  great  was  their  zeal,  that  chiefs  performed  the 
duties  of  common  m^en,  and  the  latter  required  no  signal  to 
rush  to  victory  or  encounter  death.  The  priests  passed 
continually  amongst  the  ranks,  to  recall  to  the  Crusaders 
the  maxims  of  scriptural  morality.  Their  discourses  were 
not  thrown  away;  for,  if  we  may  credit  contemporary  authors, 
who  seldom  spare  the  champions  of  the  cross,  the  conduct  of 
the  Christians  during  the  siege  of  Nice  offered  nothing  but 
examples  of  warlike  virtue  and  subjects  of  edification. 

In  the  first  days  of  the  siege  the  Christians  made  several 
assaidts,  in  Avhich  they  uselessly  displayed  prodigies  of 
valoiu*.  Kilidge-Arslan,  who  had  placed  both  his  family  and 
his  treasures  in  Nice,  animated  the  garrison  by  his  letters, 
and  resolved  to  spare  no  efforts  to  succour  the  besieged. 
He  called  together  the  chiefs  of  his  army ;  he  reminded  them 
of  the  advantages  they  had  gained  over  the  Christians,  and 
predicted  still  more  brilliant  trophies  to  their  valour.  "  The 
greatest  disorder,"  he  told  them,  "reigned  in  the  Christian 
army,  and  the  numbers  of  their  enemies  assured  them  the 
victory.  They  were  going  to  fight  for  their  wives,  their 
children,  and  the  country  which  they  owed  to  the  conquests 

*  Quis  tot  principes,  tot  duces,  tot  equites,  tot  pedites,  sine  rege,  sine 
imperatore  dimicante  hacteniis  audivit,  neque  siquidem  in  isto  exercitu 
alter  alteri  prsefuit,  alius  aliis  imperavit. — Baldric,  ch.  13. 

The  reader  may  keep  his  attention  fixed  upon  this,  as  the  source  of 
most  of  their  disasters  ;  and  in  all  the  history  of  the  Crusaders  there  is  no 
miracle  greater  than  that  an  army  so  constituted  could  achieve  anything. 


IIISTOIIT    or    THE    CRUSADES.  101 

of  their  fathers  ;  the  religion  of  the  prophet  implored  their 
help,  and  the  richest  booty  would  be  the  reward  of  their 
exploits."  The  Mussulmans,  animated  by  the  speeches  and 
the  example  of  their  chief,  prepared  for  battle,  and  descended 
the  mountains.  Their  army,  divided  into  two  bodies,  attacked 
with  impetuosity  the  quarter  of  Godfrey  de  Bouillon  and 
that  of  Eaymond  de  Thoulouse,  who  had  just  arrived  before 
Nice.  The  Provencals  were  not  able  to  resist  the  first 
shock,  but  they  rallied  soon  at  the  voices  of  Eapnond  and 
Adhemar.  "  Then  the  two  armies,"  says  Matthew  of  Edessa,* 
who  speaks  of  this  battle,  "joined,  mingled,  and  attacked 
each  other,  with  equal  fury.  Everywhere  glittered  casques 
and  shields  ;  lances  rung  against  cuirasses  ;  the  air  resounded 
with  piercing  cries ;  the  terrified  horses  recoiled  at  the 
din  of  arms  and  the  hissing  of  arrows ;  the  earth  trembled 
beneath  the  tread  of  the  combatants,  and  the  plain  was  for 
a  vast  space  bristling  with  javelins."  Godfrey,  Tancred,  and 
the  two  E/oberts,  appeared  to  be  everywhere  at  once,  and 
carried  death  and  terror  into  the  ranks  of  the  infidels.  The 
Turks  could  not  long  withstand  the  impetuous  valour  of  the 
Crusaders ;  they  were  put  to  the  rout,  and  pursued  by  the 
conquerors  even  to  the  mountains  which  served  them  as  a 
place  of  refuge. 

The  sultan,  instead  of  deploring  his  defeat,  only  thought 
of  avenging  the  disgrace  of  his  arms,  and  on  the  very  mor- 
row, at  break  of  day,  led  back  his  troops  to  the  combat.  The 
Turks  attacked  the  Christians,  uttering  loud  cries.  Some- 
times they  rushed  with  fury  into  the  ranks  of  the  Crusaders, 
sometimes  they  fought  at  a  distance,  pouring  in  showers  of 
arrows.  Then  they  feigned  to  fly,  only  to  return  to  the 
charge  with  greater  fury.  This  second  battle,  in  which  the 
Turks  showed  the  courage  of  despair  seconded  by  all  the 
stratagems  of  war,  lasted  from  morning  till  night.  The 
victory,  which  was  for  a  long  time  doubtful,  cost  the  Chris- 
tians two  thousand  lives.    The  Crusaders  made  a  great  many 

*  The  Armenian  history  of  Matthew  of  Edessa  is  among  the  manu- 
scripts of  the  Imperial  Library,  "  Ancien  Fonds,"  No.  99.  We  quote  it 
from  a  translation  which  M.  de  St.  Martin  has  been  so  kind  as  to  com- 
municate to  us,  and  likewise  the  translation  which  M.  Cerbeid,  Armenian 
professor  at  the  Imperial  Library,  has  made  for  the  purpose  of  elucidating 
some  manuscripts. 


102  HISTOKY    or    THE    CRUSJJDES. 

prisoners ;  four  thousand  Mussulmans  fell  on  the  field  of 
battle ;  the  heads  of  a  thousand  were  sent  to  Alexius ;  and 
the  rest,  by  the  aid  of  machines,  were  cast  into  the  city,  to 
inform  the  garrison  of  this  fresh  defeat  of  the  Turks. 

Kilidge-Arslan,  despairing  to  save  Nice,  retired  with  the 
wreck  of  his  army,  and  hastened  to  gather  together  in  the 
provinces  new  forces,  with  which  to  oppose  the  Christians. 
The  Crusaders,  ha^-ing  no  longer  to  dread  the  neighbourhood 
of  an  enemy's  army,  pushed  on  the  siege  with  Tigour. 
Sometimes  they  made  approaches  by  galleries  covered  by  a 
double  roof  of  boards  and  hurdles  ;  sometimes  thev  dra2:s:ed 
towards  the  walls  towers  mounted  on  a  number  of  wheels, 
constructed  with  several  stages,  and  loaded  ^vith  arms  and 
soldiers.  Here  the  rams  beat  against  the  walls  with  re- 
doubled shocks  ;  at  a  short  distance  balistas  vomited,  without 
ceasing,  beams  of  wood  and  showers  of  arrows ;  and  cata- 
pultas  cast  into  the  air  combustible  matters  and  enormous 
stones,  which  fell  with  a  crash  into  the  citv. 

The  Christians  employed  in  this  siege  all  the  machines* 
known  to  the  Eomans.  The  Greeks  were  better  acquainted 
with  the  construction  of  them  than  the  Latins,  and  directed 
their  operations.  It  is  likewise  probable  that  the  Greeks 
who  were  in  Xice,  and  subject  to  the  power  of  the  Mussul- 
mans, instructed  the  latter  in  the  means  of  defending  the 
place. 

The  Christians  allowed  the  besieged  no  respite,  and  they 
defended  themselves  with  obstinate  ftiry.  All  the  inhabitants 
of  Xice  had  taken  arms.  Their  ramparts  were  covered 
with  formidable  machines,  which  hurled  destruction  among 
the  assailants.  Fiery  darts,  beams,  enormous  pieces  of  stone, 
launched  from  the  height  of  the  walls,  destroyed,  day  after 
day,  the  labours  of  the  Crusaders.  ^WTien  the  Christians 
had  made  a  breach  in  the  ramparts,  another  wall  arose  from 
the  bosom  of  the  ruins,  and  presented  a  new  barrier  to  the 
besiegers. 

As  the  Crusaders  attacked  without  order  or  precaution, 
their  imprudence  and  their  rashness  were  often  very  fatal  to 


*  The  Pisans,  the  Genoese,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  nations  of  Italy, 
after  the  Greeks,  showed  themselves  most  skilful  in  the  construction  of 
machines  for  war. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    CEUSADES.  103 

them.  Some  were  crushed  "beneath  the  fragments  of  their 
own  machines ;  others  fell  pierced  with  poisoned  darts ; 
sometimes,  even,  savs  an  historian,  the  besiegers  sported 
with  their  efforts,  catching  them  with  iron  hands,*-  or  hooks, 
which,  falling  upon  them,  seized  them,  and  lifted  them  ahve 
into  the  city.  After  having  stripped  them,  the  Turks  hung 
them  upon  their  ramparts,  and  then  launched  them,  by 
means  of  their  machines,  stark  naked  into  the  camp  of  the 
Christians. 

A  Saracen,  t  whom  history  describes  to  us  as  a  giant, 
performed  during  this  siege  exploits  which  surpass  those 
related  of  fabulous  antiquity.  He  was  not  less  remarkable 
for  his  skill  than  for  the  strength  of  his  arm ;  he  never  cast 
a  javelin  in  vain,  and  all  whom  he  hit  were  sure  to  sink 
beneath  the  blow.  AVhen  he  had  exhausted  his  arrows,  and 
could  make  no  more  use  of  his  bow,  he  seized  masses  of 
rock,  and  rolled  them  down  upon  the  assailants.  One  day, 
when  he  was  standing  on  the  platform  of  a  tower  attacked 
by  Raymond,  he  alone  defied  the  efforts  of  tlie  enemies.  At 
one  time  he  hurled  a  shower  of  stones  upon  the  besiegers  ; 
then,  raising  his  voice,  he  defied  the  bravest  of  the  Chris- 
tians to  the  combat,  loading  them  with  the  most  violent 
abuse.  All  eyes  were  turned  towards  him,  and  a  thousand 
arrows  flew  at  once  from  the  Christian  army  to  punish  his 
audacity.     For  a  moment  all  the  efforts  of  the  besiegers 

•  were  directed  against  a  single  man.  His  body  was  covered 
with  wounds  and  bristling  with  arrows ;  but  he  defended 
himself  skilfully,  and  was  still  braving  the  crowd  of  his 
enemies,  when  Godfrey,  attracted  by  the  noise  of  this  general 

•  attack,  seized  a  cross-bow,  and  taking  aim  at  the  redoubt- 
able Saracen,  shot  him  through  the  heart,  and  his  immense 
body  rolled  from  the  platform  into  the  ditch. 

This  victory,  which  appears  rather  to  belong  to  the  heroes 

,    of  the  epopea  than  to  those  of  history,  was  celebrated  by  the 

acclamations  of  the  Christian  army.     The  Crusaders,  who 

gained  several  other  advantages,  redoubled  their  zeal  and 


*  These  iron  hands  were  nothing  more  than  the  machine  called  the 
raven  by  the  Romans,  which  they  employed  in  grappling  vessels :  they 
likewise  made  use  of  it  in  sieges. 

t  See  William  of  Tyre,  lib.  iii. 


104  niSTOET    OF    THE    CEUSJJ^ES. 

tlieir  valorous  efforts,  and  the  besieged  "began  to  offer  a  less 
animated  resistance.  As  the  Saracens  received  provisions 
and  reinforcements  bv  the  Lake  Ascanius,  it  was  resolved 
to  cut  off  this  last  resource.  A  large  number  of  boats, 
furnished  bv  the  Greeks,  were  transported  bj  land,  and 
launched  into  the  water  in  the  night-time.  AVhen  day 
appeared,  the  lake  was  covered  with  barks,  each  bearing 
fifty  combatants  ;  the  flags  were  displayed,  and  floated  over 
the  waters,  and  the  lake  and  its  shores  resounded  with  the 
various  war-cries  and  the  noise  of  the  trumpets  and  drums. 
At  this  sight  the  besieged  were  struck  vrith.  surprise  and 
terror ;  and  the  Christians  renewed  theii'  attacks  with  greater 
success.     The   soldiers  of  Eavmond  had  undermined  the 

*  

foundations  of  one  of  the  principal  towers  of  Nice.  This 
tower  sank  down  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  and  its  fall 
was  accompanied  by  so  frightful  a  noise,  that  both  the 
Christians  and  the  ^Mussulmans  were  aroused  from  their 
sleep,  and  believed  that  an  earthquake  had  taken  place.  On 
the  followino:  dav  the  wife  of  the  sultan,  with  two  infant 
children,  endeavoured  to  escape  by  the  lake,  and  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Christians.  AVhen  the  news  of  this  reached 
the  city,  it  greatly  increased  the  general  consternation. 
After  a  siege  of  seven  weeks,  the  Mussulmans  had  lost  all 
hopes  of  defending  Xice,  and  the  Christians  were  expecting 
every  day  to  be  able  to  take  it  by  assault,  when  the  policy 
of  Alexius  intervened  to  deprive  their  arms  of  the  honour  of 
a  complete  conquest^ 

This  prince,  who  has  been  compared  to  the  bird  who  seeks 
his  food  in  the  tracks  of  the  lion,  had  advanced  as  far  as 
Pelecania.  He  had  sent  to  the  army  of  the  Crusaders  a 
weak  detachment  of  Greek  troops,  and  two  generals  intrusted 
with  his  confidence,  less  for  the  purpose  of  fighting  than  to 
negotiate,  and  seize  an  opportunity  to  get  possession  of 
!Xice  bv  stratao^em.  One  of  these  ofilcers.  named  Butu- 
mitus,  ha\'ing  got  into  the  city,  created  in  the  inhabitants 
a  dread  of  the  inexorable  vengeance  of  the  Latins,  and 
advised  them  to  surrender  to  the  emperor  of  Constantinople. 
His  propositions  were  listened  to,  and  when  the  Crusaders 
were  preparing  to  begin  a  last  assault,  the  standards  of 
Alexius  all  at  once  appeared  upon  the  ramparts  and  towers 
of  Nice 


UTSTOllY    or    THE    CRUSADES.  105 

This  sight  created  the  most  lively  surprise  in  the  Christian 
army.  The  greater  part  of  the  leaders  could  not  restrain 
their  indignation,  and  the  soldiers  who  were  preparing  for 
the  assault  returned  to  their  tents  trembling  with  rage. 
Their  fury  was  increased  when  they  found  they  were  pro- 
hibited from  entering  more  than  ten  at  a  time  into  a  city 
which  they  had  conquered  at  the  price  of  their  blood,  and 
which  contained  riches  which  had  been  promised  to  them. 
In  vain  the  Greeks  alleged  the  treaties  made  with  Alexius, 
and  the  services  they  had  rendered  the  Latins  during  the 
siege ;  the  murmurs  were  never  silenced  for  a  moment, 
except  by  the  largesses  of  the  emperor. 

This  prince  received  the  greater  part  of  the  chiefs  at 
Pelecania,  where  he  duly  praised  their  bravery  and  loaded 
them  with  presents.  After  having  taken  possession  of  Nice, 
he  gained  a  new  victory,  perhaps  not  less  flattering  to  his 
vanity ;  he  at  length  triumphed  over  the  pride  of  Tancred, 
who  took  the  oath  of  fidelity  and  obedience  to  him.  JSTever- 
theless,  he  did  not  stifle  the  suspicions  they  had  conceived  of 
his  perfidy.  The  liberty  to  which  he  restored  the  wife  and 
children  of  the  sultan,  and  the  kind  manner  in  w^hich  he 
treated  the  Turkish  prisoners,  gave  the  Latins  good  reason 
to  believe  that  he  sought  to  conciliate  the  enemies  of  the 
Christians.  Nothing  more  was  necessary  to  renew  former 
hatreds,  and  from  this  period  war  was  almost  declared 
between  the  Greeks  and  the  Crusaders. 

A  year  had  passed  away  since  the  Crusaders  had  quitted 
the  West.  After  having  reposed  some  time  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Nice,  they  prepared  to  set  forward  on  their 
march  towards  Syria  and  Palestine.  The  provinces  of  Asia 
Minor  Avhich  they  were  about  to  cross  were  still  occupied  by 
the  Turks,  who  were  animated  by  fanaticism  and  despair, 
and  who  formed  less  a  nation  than  an  army,  always  ready  to 
fight  and  to  pass  from  one  place  to  another.  In  a  country 
so  long  ravaged  by  war,  the  roads  were  scarcely  to  be  seen, 
and  all  communication  between  cities  was  stopped.  In  the 
mountains,  defiles,  torrents,  precipices,  must  constantly 
create  impediments  to  the  march  of  a  numerous  army ;  in 
the  plains,  mostly  uncultivated  and  barren,  famine,  the  want 
of  water,  the  burning  heat  of  the  climate,  were  inevitable 
evils.     The  Crusaders  fancied  they  had  conquered  all  their 


106  HISTOSY    or    TKE    CHL'SADES. 

enemies  at  Xice,  and  ^tliout  taking  any  precaution,  with- 
out any  other  guides  than  the  Greeks,  of  Trhom  they  had  so 
much  reason  to  comnlain,  they  adyanced  into  a  country  with 
which  they  were  totally  unacquainted.  They  had  no  idea  of 
the  obstacles  they  should  encoimter  in  their  march,  and 
their  ignorance  created  their  security. 

They  had  dJAided  their  army  into  two  bodies,  which 
marched  at  some  distance  the  one  from  the  other,  across 
the  mountains  of  Lesser  Phrygia.  By  marching  thus  sepa- 
rately they  could  more  easily  procure  proyisions ;  but  they 
ran  the  risk  of  being  surprised  by  an  actiye  and  yigilant 
enemy.  Kilidge-Arslan,  twice  conquered  by  the  Christians, 
had  slathered  to2:ether  new  forces.  At  the  head  of  an  army, 
which  the  Latin  historians  say  amounted  to  two  hundred 
thousand  men,  he  followed  the  Crusaders,  watching  for  an 
opportunity  to  surprise  them,  and  to  make  them  pay  dearly 
for  the  conquest  of  Xice. 

^Tiilst  the  main  army,  commanded  by  G-odfrey,  Eaymond, 
Adhemar,  Hugh  the  Great,  and  the  count  of  Flanders,  was 
crossino^  the  plain  of  Dorylaeum,  the  other  body,  which  was 
commanded  by  Bohemond,  Tancred.  and  the  duke  of  Xor- 
mandy,  directed  its  march  to  the  left.  It  was  following  the 
banks  of  a  little  riyer,  and  was  adyancing  into  a  yaUey  to 
which  the  Latin  historians  haye  giyen  the  name  of  Gorgoni 
or  Ozellis.*  Some  intimations  had  been  giyen  by  the 
Greeks  that  the  enemy  was  niorh,  but  the  Crusaders  belieyed 
they  had  nothing  to  fear.  After  a  day's  march,  on  the  eyening 
of  the  30th  of  Jime,  they  arriyed  at  a  place  which  offered  them 
abundant  pasturage,  and  they  resolyed  to  encamp.  The 
Christian  army  passed  the  night  in  the  most  profound  secu- 

*  This  valley,  formed  on  the  north  bv  the  mountain  in-Eengni,  and 
•watered  by  a  river  which  runs  from  west  to  east,  and  which  is  perhaps  the 
Bathis  of  the  ancients,  having  the  villages  of  Taochanlu  and  Gourmen  on 
the  eeist,  and  that  of  Yen-Euglu  on  the  west  ;*  this  last  is  but  three 
marine  leagues,  or  nine  miles,  from  Dorylseum.  Albert  d'Aix  calls  this 
valley  Dogorganhi,  which  appears  to  be  the  Oriental  name,  from  which 
the  Latin  historians  have  made  that  of  Gorgoni,  which  paints  in  some 
sort  the  horrors  of  this  fatal  day.  Ozelli?  is  apparently  the  name  which 
the  Greeks  gave  it.  "SVe  owe  these  particulars  to  the  learned  inquiries  of 
Walckeuaer. 


See  Arrowsmith's  Map  of  Constantinople  and  its  environs. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  107 

rity ;  but  on  the  morrow,  at  daybreak,  the  scouts  and  clouds 
of  dust  on  the  heights  announced  to  them  the  presence  of 
the  enemy.  Immediately  the  camp  was  roused,  and  all  flew 
to  arms.  Bohemond,  thus  become  the  leader  of  the  army  in 
the  midst  of  peril,  hastened  to  make  the  necessary  dispo- 
sitions for  receiving  the  Tiu-ks.  The  camp  of  the  Christians 
was  defended  on  one  side  by  the  river,  and  on  the  other  by 
a  marsh  covered  with  reeds.  The  prince  of  Tarentum  caused 
it  to  be  surrounded  with  chariots,  and  with  pahsades  made 
of  the  stakes  employed  in  erecting  the  tents.  He  next 
assigned  the  posts  to  the  infantry,  and  placed  the  women, 
the  children,  and  the  sick  in  the  centre  of  them.  The 
cavalry,  divided  into  three  bodies,  advanced  to  the  head  of 
the  camp,  and  prepared  to  dispute  the  passage  of  the  river. 
One  of  these  bodies  was  commanded  by  Tancred,  and  Wil- 
liam his  brother,  and  another  by  the  duke  of  Normandy  and 
the  count  de  Chartres.  Bohemond,  who  commanded  the 
centre,  placed  himself  with  his  horsemen  upon  a  height, 
whence  he  might  observe  everything,  and  follow  the  order 
of  the  battle. 

Scarcely  had  the  prince  of  Tarentum  finished  his  pre- 
parations, when  the  Saracens,  uttering  loud  cries,  descended 
from  the  mountains,  and,  when  within  bow-shot,  discharged 
a  shower  of  arrows  upon  the  Christians.  This  did  very 
little  harm  to  the  horsemen,  who  were  defended  by  their 
shields  and  their  armour,  but  it  wounded  a  great  many 
of  the  horses,  which  threw  the  ranks  into  disorder.  The 
archers,  the  sliugers,  the  crossbow-men,  scattered  here  and 
there  upon  the  flanks  of  the  Christian  army,  were  not  able 
to  return  to  the  Turks  all  the  arrows  that  were  launched  at 
them.  The  horsemen  becoming  impatient  to  make  use  of 
the  lance  and  the  SAvord,  the  most  eager  of  them  impru- 
dently crossed  the  river  and  fell  upon  the  Saracens.  But 
the  latter  avoided  the  melee;  as  fast  as  the  Crusaders  pre- 
sented themselves  before  them,  they  opened  their  ranks, 
dispersed,  rallied  at  some  distance,  and  darkened  the  air 
with  a  fresh  cloud  of  arrows.  The  speed  of  their  horses 
seconded  them  in  these  evolutions,  and  secured  them  from 
the  pursuit  of  the  Crusaders,  whom  they  fought  whilst 
appearing  to  fly. 

This   mamier   of  fighting   was   quite   in    favour   of  the 


lOS  mSTOKY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

Turks,  and  rendered  tlie  disposition  the  Christian  army  made 
before  the  battle,  entirely  useless.  Every  leader,  eyery 
horseman,  took  counsel  only  of  his  o^^ii  coui'age,  and  aban- 
doned himself  to  its  dictates.  The  Christians  fought  in  dis- 
order upon  ground  with  which  they  were  quite  unacquainted, 
and  the  bravest  ran  the  greatest  risks.  Eobert  of  Paris, 
the  same  who  had  seated  himself  on  the  imperial  throne  by 
the  side  of  Alexius,  was  mortally  wounded,  after  having  seen 
forty  of  his  companions  fall  around  him.  AVilliam,  the 
brother  of  Tancred.  fell  pierced  with  arrows.  Tancred  him- 
self, whose  lance  was  broken,  and  who  had  no  weapon  left 
but  his  sword,  onlv  owed  his  safety  to  Bohemond,  who  came 
to  his  succour,  and  extricated  him  from  the  hands  of  the 
infidels.  Whilst  the  victory  between  strength  and  agility 
remained  uncertain,  new  troops  of  Saracens  descended  from 
the  mountains  and  joined  the  fight.  The  sultan  of  Xice 
took  advantaofe  of  the  moment  at  which  the  cavalry  of  the 
Crusaders  could  scarcely  resist  the  shock  of  the  Turkish 
army,  to  attack  their  camp.  He  ordered  a  body  of  his 
choicest  soldiers  to  draw  their  swords  and  follow  him.  He 
crossed  the  river,  and  overcame  every  obstacle  that  was 
placed  in  his  way.  In  an  instant  the  camp  of  the  Christians 
was  invaded  and  filed  by  the  Turks.  The  Saracens  massa- 
cred aU  who  came  within  reach  of  their  swords ;  sparing 
none  but  younor  and  beautiful  women,  whom  thev  destined 
for  their  seraglios.  H  we  are  to  believe  Albert  of  Aix,  the 
daughters  and  the  wives  of  the  barons  and  knights  preferred 
on  this  occasion  slavery  to  death  ;  for  they  were  seen,  in  the 
midst  of  the  tumult,  decking:  themselves  in  their  most  beau- 
tifid  vestments,  and  presenting  themselves  thus  before  the 
Saracens,  seeking  by  the  display  of  their  charms  to  soften 
the  hearts  of  a  pitiless  enemy.*  In  the  meanwhile  Bohe- 
mond, rendered  aware  of  the  attack  upon  the  camp,  came 
promptly  to  its  succour,  and  forced  the  sultan  to  rejoin  the 
body  of  his  army.  Then  the  confiict  recommenced  on  the 
banks  of  the  river  with  increased  fury.  The  duke  of  Xor- 
mandy,  who  had  remained  alone  with  some  of  his  knights 

*  Hdc  crudelitate  atrocissimcE  mortis  stitpefactce  tenercE  puellce  et 
nobilissimce,  vesiibus  ornari  festinabant,  se  offerentes  Turcis,  ut  saltern 
amore  honestarum  formarum  accensi  et  placati,  discant  captivarum 
misereri. — Alb.  Aq.  lib.  iii.  cap.  4. 


IIISTOIIY    or    TUE    CllUSADES.  109 

on  the  field  of  battle,  snatclied  his  white  pennon  embroi- 
dered  with  gold  from  the  hand  of  him  wlio  bore  it,  and 
rushed  into  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  crying  nloud,  "  It  is 
the  will  of  God  I  It  is  the  tvill  of  God)''  He  cut  down 
Avith  his  sword  all  who  were  in  his  path ;  among  the  victims 
to  his  valour  being  one  of  the  principal  Turkish  emirs. 
Tancred,  Eichard  prince  of  Salerno,  Stephen  count  of  Blois, 
and  other  chiefs,  followed  Eobert's  example  and  seconded  his 
valour.  Bohemond,  who  was  pursuing  the  sultan  of  Nice, 
met  a  troop  of  soldiers  who  were  flying,  and  stopped  them, 
saying,  "  Whither  are  you  flying,  Christian  soldiers  ?  Do 
you  not  see  that  their  horses  have  more  speed  than  ours  ? 
I'ollow  me,  I  will  show  you  a  safer  road  than  flight!" 
Scarcely  had  he  spoken  these  words,  than  he  rushed  with 
them  into  the  midst  of  the  Saracens,  and  renewed  the  fight. 
In  the  disorder  of  the  melee,  the  women,  who  had  been 
liberated  from  the  hands  of  the  Saracens,  and  who  were 
eager  to  revenge  their  outraged  modesty,  went  through  the 
ranks  bearing  refreshment  to  the  soldiers,  and  exhorting 
them  to  redouble  their  courage  to  save  tliem  from  slavery. 

But  so  many  generous  efforts  were  nearly  proving  useless. 
The  Crusaders  were  exhausted  with  fatigue,  and  could  not 
long  resist  an  enemy  whose  force  was  being  constantly 
renewed,  and  who  overwhelmed  them  with  numbers.  The 
Christian  army,  surrounded  on  all  sides,  w^as  compelled  to 
retreat  fighting  and  to  retire  to  the  camp,  into  which  the 
Turks  were  upon  the  point  of  entering  with  them.  It  is 
im.possible  to  paint  the  confusion  and  the  despair  which 
reigned  at  that  moment  among  the  Crusaders.  Priests 
were  seen  imploring,  by  their  groans  and  their  prayers,  the 
assistance  of  the  God  of  armies  ;  women  filled  the  air  wdth 
lamentations  for  the  dead  and  the  wounded ;  whilst  soldiers 
fell  on  their  knees  to  the  priests  to  obtain  absolution  for 
their  sins.  Amid  this  frightful  tumult  the  voices  of  the 
leaders  were  but  little  attended  to  ;  the  most  intrepid  were 
covered  with  wounds,  burning  with  thirst  and  heat,  and 
coidd  fight  no  longer.  They  despaired  of  seeing  Jerusalem, 
and  were  in  momentary  expectation  of  death,  when  all  at 
once  a  thousand  voices  proclaimed  the  approach  of  Eaymond 
and  Grodfrey,  who  were  advancing  with  the  other  division 
of  the  Christian  army. 


110  HISTORY    OF    THE    CSUSAHES. 

Before  the  commencement  of  the  "battle,  Boliemond  had 
sent  messengers  to  inform  them  of  the  attack  of  the  Turks. 
On  learning  this,  the  duke  of  Lorraine,  the  count  de  Yer- 
mandois,  and  the  count  of  Flanders,  at  the  head  of  the  mam 
body  of  their  army,  had  directed  their  march  towards  the 
valley  of  Grorgoni,  followed  by  Eaymond  and  Adhemar,  who 
brought  up  the  baggage,  at  the  head  of  the  rear-guard. 
"When  they  appeared  upon  the  ridge  of  the  mountains  on 
the  eastern  side,  the  sun  was  in  the  midst  of  his  course,  and 
his  light  shone  full  upon  their  shields,  their  helmets,  and 
their  naked  swords  ;  the  ensigns  were  displayed ;  the  noise 
of  their  drums  and  clarions  resounded  afar ;  and  fifty  thou- 
sand horsemen,  fully  armed  and  eager  for  the  fight,  advanced 
in  good  order.  This  splendid  sight  revived  the  hopes  of  the 
Crusaders,  and  cast  fear  and  dread  among  the  infidel  ranks. 

Scarcely  had  Godfrey,  who,  followed  by  fifty  knights,  had 
preceded  his  army,  mixed  with  the  combatants,  when  the 
sultan  sounded  a  retreat  and  retired  to  the  heights,  where 
he  hoped  the  Crusaders  would  not  dare  to  follow  him.  The 
second  body  of  the  Christian  army  soon  arrived  on  the  plain 
smoking  with  the  blood  of  the  Christians.  The  Crusaders, 
recognising  their  brothers  and  companions  stretched  in  the 
dust,  became  impatient  to  revenge  their  death,  and  with 
loud  cries  demanded  to  be  led  to  the  fight.  Even  the  com- 
batants who  had  been  fighting  from  morning,  now  would  not 
hear  of  repose.  The  Clu'istian  army  immediately  formed  in 
order  of  battle.  Bohemond,  Tancred,  and  Robert  of  Xor- 
mandy,  placed  themselves  on  the  left ;  Grodfrey,  the  count 
of  Flanders,  and  the  count  of  Blois  led  on  the  right  wing. 
Raymond  commanded  the  centre,  and  the  rear-guard,  or  body 
of  reserve,  was  placed  under  the  orders  of  Adhemar.  Before 
the  leaders  gave  the  word,  the  priests  passed  among  the 
ranks,  exhorting  the  Crusaders  to  fight  manfully,  and  gi\dng 
them  their  benedictions.  The  soldiers  and  the  leaders, 
drawing  their  swords,  and  threatening  the  enemy,  cried  with 
one  voice,  "  Jif  is  the  will  of  God!  It  is  the  tcill  of  God!^' 
and  this  animating  war-cry  was  repeated  by  the  echoes  of 
the  mountains  and  the  valleys.  At  length  the  Christian 
army  advanced,  marching  full  of  confidence  against  the 
Turks,  for  whom  the  rocks  and  the  hills  appeared  to  be  a 
sure  place  of  refuge. 


HISTORY    OE    THE    CRUSADES.  IH 

The  Saracens  remained  motionless  on  tlie  mountains,  and 
had  apparently  exhausted  their  arrows.  The  nature  of  the 
ground  did  not  allow  them  to  perform  their  rapid  evolutions 
or  pursue  their  usual  tactics.  JN^either  were  they  animated 
by  the  hopes  of  victory  ;  but,  in  an  attitude  which  expressed 
fear,  they  awaited  their  enemies  in  silence.  The  count  of 
Thoulouse,  who  attacked  them  in  front,  broke  through  their 
ranks  at  the  first  charge.  Tancred,  Godfrey,  Hugh,  and  the 
two  Roberts,  attacked  them  on  their  flanks  with  the  same 
advantage.  Adhemar,  who  had  gone  round  the  mountaias, 
directed  his  attack  upon  the  rear  of  the  enemies,  and  com- 
pleted the  disorder.  The  Saracens  found  themselves  sur- 
rounded by  a  forest  of  lances,  and  became  only  solicitous 
to  secure  safety  by  escaping  over  the  rocks  and  through  the 
woods.  A  great  number  of  emu's,  three  thousand  officers, 
and  more  than  twenty  thousand  soldiers,  lost  their  lives  in 
the  battle  and  the  flight. 

The  camp  of  the  enemy,  which  was  at  two  leagues'  dis- 
tance, fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Crusaders.  The  conquerors 
there  found  abundance  of  pro\dsions,  magnificently  orna- 
mented tents,  immense  treasiu'es,  all  sorts  of  beasts  of 
biu'then,  and  above  all,  a  gi'eat  number  of  camels.  The 
sight  of  these  animals,  which  were  then  unknown  in  the 
AYest,  caused  them  as  much  siu'prise  as  joy.  They  mounted 
the  horses  of  the  Saracens,  to  pursue  the  remains  of  the 
conquered  army.  Towards  nightfall  they  returned  to  their 
camp  loaded  with  booty,  preceded  by  their  priests,  singuig 
hymns  and  canticles  of  thanksgiving.  Both  leaders  and  sol- 
diers had  covered  themselves  with  glory  in  this  great  conflict. 
'We  have  named  the  principal  leaders  of  the  army;  historians 
point  out  many  more,  such  as  Baldwin  of  Beauvais,  Gralon 
de  Calmon,  Graston  de  Beam,  Gerard  de  Cherisi,  all  of  whom 
signalized  themselves  by  exploits,  says  AVilliam  of  Tyre,  the 
remembrance  of  which  t\t11  never  perish. 

The  day  after  the  victory  the  Crusaders  repaired  to  the 
field  of  battle  for  the  purpose  of  burying  the  dead.  They 
had  lost  fom^  thousand  of  their  companions,  and  they 
paid  them  the  last  duties  in  tears ;  the  clergy  offered  up 
their  prayers  for  them,  and  the  army  honoured  them  as 
martyrs.  They  soon,  however,  passed  from  funeral  cere- 
monies to  transports  of  the  wildest  joy.     On  stripping  the 


112  HISTORY   OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

Saracens,  they  quarrelled  for  their  blood-stained  habits.  In 
the  excess  of  their  delight,  some  of  the  soldiers  would  put 
on  the  armour  of  their  enemies,  and  clothing  themselves  in 
the  flowing  robes  of  the  Mussulmans,  would  seat  themselves 
in  the  tents  of  the  conquered,  and,  with  imitative  gestures, 
ridicule  the  luxury  and  customs  of  Asia.  Such  as  were 
without  arms  took  possession  of  the  swords  and  crooked 
sabres  of  the  Saracens,  and  the  archers  filled  their  quivers 
with  the  arrows  which  had  been  shot  at  them  during  the 
fight. 

The  intoxication  of  victory,  however,  did  not  prevent 
their  doing  justice  to  the  bravery  of  the  Turks,  who,  from 
that  time,  boasted  of  having  a  common  origin  with  the 
Franks.  Contemporary  historians,  who  praise  the  valour  of 
the  Turks,  add,  that  they  only  wanted  to  be  Christians  to 
make  them  quite  comparable  to  the  Crusaders.  That  which, 
otherwise,  proves  the  high  idea  the  Crusaders  entertained  of 
their  enemies,  is,  that  they  attributed  their  victory  to  a 
miracle.  Two  days  after  the  battle,  says  Albert  of  Aix, 
although  no  one  was  pursuing  them,  the  infidels  continued 
flying,  exclaiming  as  they  went,  "  It  is  the  icill  of  God  !  It 
is  the  tvill  of  QodV'^  After  the  victory,  the  Christian  army 
invoked  the  names  of  St.  George  and  St.  Demetrius,  who 
had  been  seen,  as  they  said,  fighting  in  the  ranks  of  the 
Christians.  This  pious  fable  was  accredited  among  both 
the  Latins  and  Grreeks.  A  long  time  subsequent  to  the 
victory,  the  Armenians  erected  a  church  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Dorylaeum,  where  the  people  were  accustomed  to 
assemble  on  the  first  Friday  of  March,  and  believed  that 
they  saw  St.  Greorge  appear  on  horseback,  lance  in  hand. 

Whilst  the  Crusaders  were  felicitating  themselves  on 
their  victory,  the  sultan  of  jS'ice,  who  did  not  dare  again  to 
encounter  the  Christians  in  the  field,  undertook  to  deso- 
late the  country  which  he  coidd  not  defend.  At  the  head 
of  the  wreck  of  his  army,  and  ten  thousand  Arabs  who  had 
joined  him,  he  preceded  the  march  of  the  Christians,  and 
laid  waste  his  own  provinces.  The  Turks  burnt  the  harvests, 
pillaged  the  cities,  the  boiirgs,  and  the  houses  of  the  Chris- 
tians, and  carried  away  in  their  train  the  ^^dves  and  children 
of  the  Greeks,  whom  they  detained  as  hostages.  The  banks 
of  the    Meander    and   the    Ca'ister,    Cappadocia,    Pisidia, 


HISTOEY    OF    THE    CllUSADES.  113 

Isaiiria,  and  all  the  country  as  far  as  Mount  Taurus,  were 
given  up  to  pillage,  and  entirely  laid  waste. 

"When  the  Crusaders  resumed  their  march,  they  deter- 
mined not  to  separate  again,  as  they  had  done  on  entering 
Phrygia.  This  resolution  certainly  rendered  them  safe  from 
surprise  or  hostile  attack,  but  it  exposed  so  numerous  an 
army  to  the  risk  of  perishing  b}^  famine  and  misery  in  a 
country  devastated  bv  the  Turks.*  The  Christians,  who 
marched  without  forethought,  and  were  never  provisioned 
for  more  than  a  few  days,  were  not  long  before  they  felt  the 
want  of  food.  They  found  nothing  on  their  route  but 
deserted  fields,  and  soon  had  no  other  subsistence  but  the 
roots  of  wild  plants  and  the  ears  of  corn  which  had  escaped 
the  ravages  of  the  Saracens.  By  far  the  greater  number  of 
the  horses  of  the  army  perished  for  want  of  water  and 
forage. 

Most  of  the  knights,  who  were  accustomed  to  look  with 
contempt  on  foot-soldiers,  were  obliged,  like  them,  to  march 
on  foot,  and  carry  their  arms,  the  weight  of  which  was 
enough  to  exhaust  them.  The  Christian  army  presented  a 
strange  spectacle — knights  were  seen  mounted  on  asses  and 
oxen,  advancing  at  the  head  of  their  companies ;  rams, 
goats,  pigs,  dogs,  every  anim^al  they  could  meet  with,  was 
loaded  with  baggage,  which,  for  the  most  part,  was  left 
abandoned  on  the  roads.f 

The  Crusaders  then  traversed  that  part  of  Phrygia  which 
the  ancients  called  "burning  Phrygia."  AVhen  their  army 
arrived  in  the  country  of  Sauria,;]:  they  endured  all  the  hor- 
rors of  thirst,  of  which  the  most  robust  soldiers  could  not 
resist  the  terrible  power.  We  read  in  William  of  Tyre, 
that  five  hundred  perished  in  one  day.  Historians  say  that 
women  were  seen  giving  premature  birth  to  their  ofl:spring 
in  the  midst  of  burning  and  open  fields  ;  whilst  others,  in 

*  I  have  madp  earnest  researches  to  discover  by  vv^hat  means  the  Chris- 
tian army  was  provisioned,  and  I  can  learn  nothing  beyond  the  fact  that 
the  Crusaders  carried  hand-mills  with  them. 

t  Tunc  autem  vcre  vel  riderefis,  vel  forsiian  pietate  lachrymaremini, 
cum  miiltis  riostrum  jumentis  egentes,  verveces,  capras,  sues,  canes,  de 
rebus  stiis  onerabant.  Equites  etiam  supra  boves  cum  amis  suis 
interdum  scandebant. — Ful.  Cam.  apud  Bougais,  p.  589. 

t  The  Isauria  trachea  of  the  ancients. 


11^  niSTOET    or    THE    CEUSADES. 

despair,  wi'th  cliildreii  tlier  could  no  longer  nourisli,  implored 
death  ^itli  loud  cries,  and,  in  the  excess  of  their  agony, 
rolled  naked  on  the  earth  in  the  sight  of  the  whole  armj.* 
The  authors  of  the  time  do  not  forget  to  mention  the  falcons 
and  birds  of  prev  which  the  knights  had  brought  with  them 
into  Asia,  and  which  almost  all  perished  under  the  burning 
sun.  In  vain  the  Crusaders  called  for  a  repetition  of  the 
miracles  which  Grod  had  formerly  wrought  for  his  chosen 
people  in  the  desert.  The  sterile  valleys  of  Pisidia  resounded 
during  several  days  with  their  prayers,  with  their  complaints, 
and  perhaps,  likewise,  with  their  blasphemies. 

In  the  midst  of  these  burning  countries  they  at  length 
made  a  discovery  which  saved  the  army,  but  which  was  veiy 
near  becoming  as  fatal  to  them  as  the  horrors  of  thirst. 

The  dogs  which  had  followed  the  Crusaders  had  abandoned 
their  masters,  and  wandered  over  the  plains  and  into  the 
mountains  in  search  of  a  spring. t  One  day  several  of  them 
were  seen  returning  to  the  camp  with  their  paws  and  their 
hides  covered  with  moist  sand,  and  it  was  judged  that  they 
had  foimd  water.  Several  soldiers  obsen^ed  their  track,  and 
discovered  a  river.  The  whole  army  rushed  towards  it  in  a 
mass.  The  Crusaders,  famishing  with  heat  and  thirst,  cast 
themselves  headlong  into  the  water,  and  quenched  the  inward 
heat  without  moderation  or  precaution.  More  than  three 
hundred  of  them  died  almost  immediately,  and  many  fell 
seriously  ill,  and  could  not  continue  their  march. 

At  lencjth  the  Christian  armv  arrived  before  Antiochetta, 
which  opened  its  gates  to  them.  This  city,  the  capital  of 
Pisidia,  was  situated  in  the  midst  of  a  territory  interspersed 
with  fields,  rivers,  and  forests.  The  sight  of  a  smiling  and 
fertile  country  invited  the  Cliristians  to  repose  for  a  few 
days,  and  made  them  soon  forget  all  the  evils  they  had 
undergone. 

As  the  fame  of  their  victories  and  their  march  had  sprerd 
throughout  the  neighbouring  countries,  the  greater  part  of 

*   QuamplurimcB  namque  fcEtae  mtdieres  exsiccatis  faucibus,  arefactis 

visceribus media  plated  in  omnium  aspectu  fcetus  siios  enixm  relinque- 

bant ;  alicp  mlsercE  juxta  foetus  suos  in  via  cornmuni  volutabantur,  omnem 
pudorem  et  secreta  aua  oblita. — Alb.  Aquem.  lib.  iii.  cap.  2. 

t  This  remarkable  circumstance  is  taken  from  the  Life  of  Godfrey,  by 
Jean  de  Launel,  ecuyer  seigneur  de  Cbantreau,  and  Du  Chaubert. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CETJSADES-  115 

the  cities  of  Asia  Minor,  some  from  fear,  and  others  from 
affection  to  the  Christians,  sent  deputies  to  offer  them 
supplies  and  to  swear  obedience  to  them.  Thus  they 
found  themselves  masters  of  several  countries  of  whose 
names  or  geographical  position  they  were  perfectly  ignorant. 
Most  of  the  Crusaders  were  far  from  being  aware  that 
the  provinces  they  had  just  subdued  had  seen  the  pha- 
lanx of  Alexander*  and  the  armies  of  Rome,  or  that  the 
G-reeks,  the  inhabitants  of  these  countries,  were  descended 
from  the  Grauls,  who,  in  the  time  of  the  second  Brennus, 
had  left  Illyria  and  the  shores  of  the  Danube,  had  crossed 
the  Bosphorus,*  pillaged  the  city  of  Heraclea,  and  founded 
a  colony  on  the  banks  of  the  Halys.  Without  troubling 
themselves  with  traces  of  antiquity,  the  new  conquerors 
ordered  the  Christian  churches  to  be  rebuilt,  and  scoured 
the  country  to  collect  provisions. 

During  their  abode  at  Antiochetta,  the  joy  of  their  con- 
quests was,  for  a  moment,  disturbed  by  the  fear  of  losing 
two  of  their  most  renowned  chiefs.  Eaymond,  count  of 
Thoulouse,  fell  dangerously  ill.  As  his  life  was  despaired 
of,  they  had  already  laid  him  upon  ashes,  and  the  bishop 
of  Orange  was  repeating  the  litanies  of  the  dead,  when  a 
Saxon  count  came  to  announce  that  Raymond  would  not  die 
of  this  disease,  and  that  the  prayers  of  St.  Grilles  had  obtained 
for  him  a  truce  loitJi  death.  These  words,  says  AVilliam  of 
Tyre,  restored  hope  to  all  the  bystanders,  and  soon  Eajnnond 
showed  himself  to  the  whole  army,  which  celebrated  his  cure 
as  a  miracle. 

About  the  same  time,  Godfrey,  who  had  one  day  wandered 
into  a  forest,  was  in  great  danger  from  defending  a  soldier 
who  was  attacked  by  a  bear.  He  conquered  the  bear,  but 
being  wounded  in  the  thigh,  and  the  blood  flowing  copiously, 
he  was  carried  in  an  apparently  dying  state  into  the  camp  of 
the  Crusaders.  The  loss  of  a  battle  would  have  spread  less 
consternation  than  the  sad  spectacle  which  now  presented 
itself  to  the  eyes  of  the  Christians.  All  the  Crusaders  shed 
tears,  and  put  up  prayers  for  the  life  of  Godfrey.  The 
wound  did  not  prove  dangerous,  but  weakened  by  the  loss 
of  blood,  the  duke  de  Bouillon  was  a  length  of  time  before 

*  Consult,  for  this  expedition,  Pelloutier,  Histoire  des  Celtes, 
Vol.  I.— 7 


116  HISTOllY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

lie  regained  Ha  strength.  The  count  de  Thoulouse  had 
likewise  a  long  convalescence,  and  both  were  obliged  during 
several  weeks  to  be  borne  in  a  litter  in  the  rear  of  the  army. 

Greater  evils  threatened  the  Crusaders.  Hitherto  peace 
had  reigned  amongst  them,  and  their  union  constituted  their 
strength.  All  at  once,  discord  broke  out  amongst  some  of 
the  leaders,  and  was  on  the  point  of  extending  to  the  whole 
armv.  Tancred  and  Baldwin,  the  brother  of  Grodfrey,  were 
sent  out  on  a  scouring  party,  either  to  disperse  the  scattered 
bands  of  Turks,  or  to  protect  the  Christians,  and  obtain  from 
them  assistance  and  pro\'isions.  They  advanced  at  first  into 
Lvcaonia  as  far  as  the  city  of  Iconium  ;*  but  ha\ing  met 
Avith  no  enemy,  and  finding  the  country*  abandoned,  they 
directed  their  march  towards  the  sea-coast,  through  the 
mountains  of  Cilicia.  Tancred,  who  marched  first,  arrived 
without  obstacle  under  the  walls  of  Tarsus,  a  celebrated  city 
of  antiquity,  which  takes  great  pride  from  having  been  the 
birthplace  of  St.  Paul.  The  Turks  who  defended  the  place 
consented  to  display  the  flag  of  the  Christians  on  their  walls, 
and  promised  to  surrender  if  they  were  not  speedily  relieved. 
Tancred,  whom  the  inhabitants,  for  the  most  part  Christians, 
alreadv  considered  as  their  deliverer,  was  encamping  without 
the  walls,  when  he  saw  the  detachment  commanded  by 
Baldwin  approach.  The  leaders  and  the  soldiers  congra- 
tulated each  other  on  their  reunion,  and  expressed  the 
greater  joy  from  having,  reciprocally,  taken  each  other  for 
enemies. 

But  this  harmony  was  soon  troubled  by  the  pretensions 
of  Baldwin.  The  brother  of  G-odfrey  was  indignant  at 
seeinf  the  colours  of  Tancred  and  Bohemond  flying  on  the 
walls  of  Tarsus.  He  declared  that  as  his  troop  was  the 
more  numerous,  the  city  ought  to  belong  to  him.  He  de- 
manded, at  least,  that  the  two  parties  should  enter  together 
into  the  place,  and  should  share  the  spoils  of  the  garrison 
and  the  inhabitants.  Tancred  rejected  this  proposition  with 
scorn,  and  said  that  he  had  not  taken  arms  for  the  purpose 
of  pillaging  Christian  cities.  At  these  words  Baldwin  broke 
into  a  rage,  and  bestowed  the  grossest  abuse  upon  Tancred, 
Bohemond,  and  the  whole  race  of  Xorman   adventurers. 

*  Now  Konieh,  in  Caramania. 


HISTOET   OF    THE    CRUSADES.  117 

After  long  debates,  it  was  agreed  on  both  sides,  that  the 
affair  should  be  decided  by  the  inhabitants,  and  that  the  city- 
should  belong  to  "whichever  they  should  choose  for  master. 
The  assembled  people  at  first  appeared  inclined  towards 
Tancred,  to  whom  they  thought  they  owed  their  deliverance; 
but  Baldwin  made  the  Tui-ks  and  the  inhabitants  sensible  of 
the  superiority  of  his  numbers,  and  threatened  them  vdth 
his  anger  and  his  vengeance.  The  fear  which  he  inspired 
decided  the  suffrages  in  his  favom- ;  and  the  flag  of  Tancred 
was  cast  into  the  ditches  of  the  town,  and  replaced  by  that 
of  Baldwin.* 

Blood  was  about  to  flow  to  avenge  this  outrage,  but  the 
Italians  and  Normans,  appeased  by  their  chief,  listened  to 
the  voice  of  moderation,  and  quitted  the  disputed  city  to 
seek  other  conquests  elsewhere.  Baldwin  entered  in  triumph 
into  the  place,  of  which  the  fortress  and  several  towers  were 
still  in  possession  of  the  Turks.  He  so  much  feared  that 
his  new  conquest  would  be  disputed,  that  he  refused  to  open 
the  gates  to  three  hundred  Crusaders  whom  Bohemond  had 
sent  to  the  assistance  of  Tancred,  and  who  demanded  an 
asylum  for  the  night.  These  latter,  being  obliged  to  pass 
the  night  in  the  open  field,  were  siu-prised  and  massacred  by 
the  Tiu-ks.  The  following  morning,  at  the  sight  of  their 
brethren  stretched  lifeless,  and  stripped  of  their  arms  and 
vestments,  the  Christians  could  not  restrain  their  indigna- 
tion. The  city  of  Tarsus  resounded  with  their  groans  and 
complaints.  The  soldiers  of  Baldwin  flew  to  arms,  they 
threatened  the  Turks  who  still  remained  in  the  place,  and 
vowed  vengeance  upon  their  own  leader,  whom  they  accused 
of  the  death  of  their  companions.  At  the  first  outbreak  of 
this  danger  Baldwin  was  obliged  to  fly,  and  take  refuge  in 
one  of  the  towers.  A  short  time  after  he  appeared  sur- 
rounded by  his  own  people,  mourning  with  them  the  death 

*  Ancient  history  presents  us  with  something  exceedingly  like  that 
which  is  rel-ited  here.  During  the  civil  wars  that  divided  the  Roman 
empire  under  the  triumvirate,  Cassius  and  Dolabella  disputed  the  posses- 
sion of  the  town  of  Tarsus.  Some,  says  Appian,  had  crowned  Cassius, 
who  had  arrived  first  in  the  city;  others  had  crowned  Uolabella,  who 
came  after  him.  Each  of  the  two  parties  had  given  a  character  of  public 
authority  to  their  proceedings;  and  in  conferring  honours,  first  to  one  and 
then  to  the  other,  they  each  contributed  to  the  misfortunes  of  a  city  so 
versatile  in  its  likings. — Appian,  Hist,  of  the  Civil  Wars,  b.  iv.  c.  8. 


118  HISTORY    OF    THE    CErSADES. 

of  the  Crusaders,  and  excused  himself  by  sajdng,  that  he 
had  bound  hhnself  by  an  oath  that  none  but  his  o\Yn  soldiers 
should  enter  the  town.  Thus  speaking,  he  pointed  to  several 
towers  which  were  still  occupied  by  the  Turks.  In  the  midst 
of  the  timiidt,  some  Christian  women,  whose  noses  and  ears 
the  Turks  had  cut  off,  by  their  presence  added  to  the  fury  of 
the  soldiers  of  Baldwin,  and  they  immediately  fell  upon  the 
Tui'ks  who  remained  in  the  city,  and  massacred  them  all 
\\'ithout  pity. 

In  the  midst  uf  these  scenes  of  violence,  Baldwin  received 
an  unexpected  reinforcement.  A  fleet  was  seen  approaching 
the  coast  full  sail.  The  soldiers  of  Baldwin,  who  expected 
to  have  to  deal  with  more  infidels,  hastened  fullv  armed  to 
the  shore.  As  the  fleet  drew  near,  they  interrogated  the 
crew  of  the  first  ship.  The  crew  replied  in  the  Frank  lan- 
guage. Soon  they  learnt  that  these,  whom  they  had  taken 
to  be  Mussulmans,  were  pirates  from  the  ports  of  Flanders 
and  Holland.  These  corsairs  had  for  ten  years  cruised  in 
the  Mediterranean,  where  thev  had  made  themselves  re- 
markable  by  their  exploits,  and  still  more  frequently  by 
their  pii^acies.  Upon  hearing  of  the  expedition  of  the 
Christians  of  the  West,  they  had  made  sail  for  Syria  and 
Palestine.  On  the  imitation  of  the  Crusaders,  they  joA'fully 
entered  the  port  of  Tarsus.  Their  chief,  Guymer,  who  was 
a  Boulonnais,  recognised  Baldwin,  the  son  of  his  ancient 
master,  and  promised  with  his  companions  to  serve  under 
him.  Thev  all  took  the  cross,  and  with  it  the  oath  to  share 
the  glory  and  the  labours  of  the  holy  war. 

Aided  by  this  new  reinforcement,  and  lea^'ing  a  strong 
garrison  in  the  city  of  Tarsus,  Baldwin  resumed  his  march, 
follo^ving  the  route  of  Tancred,  and  soon  came  in  sight  of 
Malmistra,*  of  which  the  Italians  liad  just  taken  possession. 
The  latter,  on  seeing  Baldwin,  were  persuaded  that  he  was 
come  to  dispute  their  new  conquest,  and  prepared  to  repulse 
force  by  force.  AYhen  Tancred  endeavom^ed  to  appease  his 
irritated  soldiers,  murmiu-s  arose  against  him.  They  accused 
him  of  having  forgotten  the  honour  of  chivalry,  his  modera- 
tion beinof  in  their  eves  nothino:  but  a  shameful  weakness. 

*  This  is  the  Me»sis  of  Abouifeda.  See  an  article  upon  this  city  in 
Mannert,  torn.  vi.  p.  2,  p.  101,  which  is  very  learned  and  very  well  done. 


niSTORY    or    THE    CUUSABES.  119 

The  effect  that  such  reproaches  must  have  had  upon  a  spirit 
like  that  of  Taucred,  may  be  easily  imagined.  The  moment 
they  suspected  his  coui^age,  he  no  longer  made  an  ettort  to 
restrain  his  anger,  and  swore  to  avenge  his  wrongs  in  the 
blood  of  his  rival.  He  himself  led  the  soldiers,  and  rushed 
out  of  the  town  at  their  head  to  encounter  the  troops  of 
Baldwin.  They  at  once  came  to  blows.  On  both  sides 
courage  was  equal;  but  the  fury  of  revenge  doubled  the 
efforts  of  the  Italians.  The  soldiers  of  Baldwin  had  the 
advantage  in  numbers.  They  fought  with  the  animosity 
peculiar  to  ci\al  wars  ;  but  at  length  the  troops  of  Tancred 
were  forced  to  give  way ;  they  left  many  of  their  companions 
in  the  hands  of  their  adversaries  and  upon  the  field  of  battle, 
and  re-entered  the  town  deploring  their  defeat  in  silence. 

jN'ight  restored  calm  to  their  excited  spirits.  The  soldiers 
of  Tancred  had  acknowledged  the  superiority  of  the  Flemings, 
and  believed,  as  blood  had  flowed,  they  had  no  longer  any 
outrage  to  avenfre,  whilst  the  followers  of  Baldwin  remem- 
bered  that  the  men  whom  they  had  conquered  were  Chris- 
tians. On  the  morrow  nothing  was  heard  on  either  side  but 
the  voice  of  humanity  and  religion.  The  two  chiefs  at  the 
same  time  sent  deputies,  and  in  order  to  avoid  an  appearance 
of  asking  for  peace,  both  attributed  their  overtiuTs  to  the 
inspiration  of  Heaven.  They  swore  to  forget  their  quarrels, 
and  embraced  in  sight  of  the  soldiers,  who  reproached  them- 
selves with  the  sad  effects  of  their  animosity,  and  longed  to 
expiate  the  blood  of  their  brothers  by  new  exploits  against 
the  Turks. 

Tancred  with  his  troop  departing  from  Malmistra,  passed 
in  triumph  along  the  coasts  of  Cilicia,  and  penetrated  as  far 
as  Alexandretta,  of  which  he  easily  took  possession.  In 
proportion  as  he  made  himself  dreaded  by  his  enemies,  he 
made  himself  the  more  beloved  by  his  companions.  When 
he  rejoined  the  Christian  army  covered  with  glory  and  loaded 
with  booty,  he  heard  all  around  him  nothing  but  praises  of 
his  moderation  and  valour,  The  presence  of  Baldwin,  who 
had  preceded  him,  on  the  contrary,  oidy  excited  murmurs, 
as  they  attributed  to  him  the  death  of  so  many  Christian 
soldiers.  Grodfrey  loudly  blamed  the  ambition  and  avarice 
of  his  brother.  But  caring  little  for  these  reproaches,  Bald- 
win yielded  to  his  rival,  without  pain,  the  suflrages  of  the 


•■-? 


120  HISTORY    OF    THE    CfiUSADES. 

army,  and  preferred  a  principality  to  the  love  and  esteem  of 
the  Crusaders  ;  and  fortune  soon  offered  him  an  opportunity 
of  realizing  his  ambitious  projects. 
(  During  the  siege  of  ]S^ice,  an  Armenian  prince  named 
^j^Ht4iXPanciatius  had  come  to  join  the  ChiTifian  army.  In  his 
youth  lie  had  been  king  of  northern  Iberia.  Driven  from 
his  kingdom  by  his  own  subjects,  and  for  a  length  of  time  a 
prisoner  at  Constantinople,  he  had  followed  the  Crusaders  in 
the  hope  of  re-concpiering  his  states.  He  had  particularly 
attached  himself  to  the  fortunes  of  Baldwin,  whose  aspiring 
character  he  understood,  and  whom  he  hoped  to  associate  in 
his  designs.  He  spoke  to  him  continually  of  the  rich  pro- 
vinces which  extended  along  the  two  shores  of  the  Euphrates.^ 
These  provinces,  he  said,  were  inhabited  by  a  great  number 
of  Christians,  and  the  Crusaders  had  but  to  present  them- 
selves there  to  make  themselves  masters  of  them.  These 
discourses  inflamed  the  ambition  of  Baldwin,  who  resolved  a 
second  time  to  qiut  the  main  army  of  the  Christians,  and  to 
go  to  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates,  to  conquer  a  coiuitry  of 
such  boasted  wealth. 

He  had  just  lost  his  wife,  Gimdechilde,  who  had  accom- 
panied him  to  the  crusade,  and  who  was  buried  with  great 
pomp  by  the  Christians.  This  loss  did  not  stop  him  in  the 
execution  of  his  projects.  As  he  was  not  beloved  in  the 
Christian  army,  when  he  was  ready  to  set  out  no  leader  was 
willing  to  join  him,  and  several  even  of  his  own  soldiers 
refused  to  accompany  him.  He  could  only  take  with  him 
from  a  thousand  to  fifteen  hundred  foot-soldiers,  a  troop 
despised  in  the  army,  and  two  hundred  horsemen,  seduced 
by  the  hopes  of  pillage.  But  nothing  coidd  abate  his  ar- 
dour, and  as  the  chiefs  of  the  crusade  had  decided  in  a 
council  that  nobody  should  be  allowed  to  withdraw  from  the 
standard  of  the  armv,  he  set  out  the  dav  before  this  decision 
was  published  in  the  camp  of  the  Christians.*  At  the  head 
of  his  little  army  he  advanced  into  Armenia,  finding  no 
enemy  able  to  impede  his  march.  Consternation  reigned 
among  the  Turks,  and  the  Cln^istians,  everj^where  eager  to 
throw  off  the  yoke  of  the  Mussulmans,  became  powerful 
auxiliaries  to  the  Crusaders. 

> 
*  When  Baldwin  quitted  the  Christian  army,  it  had  arrived  at  Marrash. 


irisTOiiY  or  THE  crju^ADES.  121 

Turbessel  and  Eavendel  were  tlie  first  cities  that  opeued 
tlieir  gates  to  the  fortuiiate  conqueror.  This  conquest  soon 
produced  a  separation  between  Baldwin  and  Pancratius,  who 
both  entertained  the  same  projects  of  ambition ;  but  this 
ditference  did  not  at  all  delay  the  march  of  the  brother  of 
Grodfrey.  The  Crusader  prince  opposed  violence  to  cun- 
ning ;  he  threatened  to  treat  his  rival  as  an  enemy,  and  thus 
drove  him  away  from  tlie  theatre  of  his  victories.  Baldwin 
wanted  neither  guide  nor  assistance  in  a  country  of  which 
the  inhabitants  all  flocked  out  to  meet  him.  As  he  pursued 
his  march,  fame  carried  his  exploits  into  the  most  distant 
places ;  the  intelligence  of  his  conquests  preceded  him  be- 
yond the  Euphrates,  and  reached  even  the  city  of  Edessa. 

This  city,  so  celebrated  in  the  times  of  the  primitive 
church,  was  the  metropolis  of  Mesopotamia.  As  it  had 
escaped  the  invasion  of  the  Turks,  all  the  Christians  of  that 
neighbourhood  had,  with  their  riches,  taken  refuge  within 
its  waUs.  A  G-reek  prince,  named  Theodore,*  deputed  by 
the  emperor  of  Constantinople,  was  the  governor  of  it,  and 
maintained  his  power  by  paying  tribute  to  the  Saracens. 
The  approach  and  the  victories  of  the  Crusaders  produced 
the  most  lively  sensations  in  the  city  of  Edessa,  The  people 
and  the  governor  joined  in  soliciting  the  aid  of  Baldwin. 
The  bishop  and  twelve  of  the  principal  inhabitants  were 
deputed  to  meet  the  Crusader  prince.  They  described  to 
him  the  Avealth  of  Mesopotamia,  the  devotion  of  their  fellow- 
citizens  to  the  cause  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  conjured  him  to 
rescue  a  Christian  city  from  the  domination  of  the  infidels. 
Baldwin  readily  yielded  to  their  prayers,  and  immediately 
prepared  to  cross  the  Euphrates. 

He  had  the  good  fortune  to  escape  the  Turks,  who  were 
waiting  for  him  on  his  passage,  and  without  drawing  a 
sword  he  arrived  in  the  territories  of  Edessa.  As  he  had 
placed  garrisons  in  the  cities  which  had  fallen  into  his 
power,  he  had  no  greater  force  with  him  than  one  hundred 
horsemen.     As  soon  as  he  drew  near  to  the  city,  the  whole 

*  None  of  the  Latin  historians  have  given  us  the  name  of  the  governor 
of  Edessa.  The  name  of  Theodore  is  found  in  the  History  of  Matthew  of 
Edessa,  from  which  we  have  taken,  according  to  the  translation  of 
M.  Corbied,  several  curious  details,  which  would  be  sought  for  in  vain 
elsewhere. 


122  HISTOKY    or    TKE    CEUS.U)£S. 

population  came  out  to  meet  him,  bearing  branches  of  olive 
and  singing  hymns.  It  must  have  been  a  curious  spectacle 
to  behold  so  small  a  number  of  warriors,  surrounded  by  an 
immense  multitude,  who  implored  their  support  and  pro- 
claimed them  their  hberators.  They  were  welcomed  with^ 
so  much  enthusiasm,  that  the  prince  or  governor  of  Edessa, 
who  was  not  beloved  by  the  people,  took  umbrage,  and  began 
to  see  in  them  enemies  more  to  be  dreaded  by  him  than  the 
Saracens.  In  order  to  attach  their  chief  to  himself,  and 
engage  him  to  support  his  authority,  he  offered  him  great 
riches.  But  the  ambitious  Baldwin,  whether  because  he 
expected  to  obtain  more  from  the  affections  of  the  people 
and  the  fortune  of  his  arms,  or  that  he  considered  it  dis- 
graceful to  place  himself  in  the  pay  of  a  foreign  prince, 
refused  with  contempt  the  offers  of  the  governor  of  Edessa, 
and  even  threatened  to  retire  and  abandon  the  city.  The 
inhabitants,  who  di*eaded  his  departure,  assembled  in  a 
tumultuous  manner,  and  implored  him  Avith  loud  cries  to 
remain  amonsf  them  :  the  orovernor  himself  made  new  efforts 
to  detain  the  Crusaders,  and  to  iaterest  them  in  his  cause. 
As  Baldwin  had  made  it  pretty  clearly  understood  that  he 
woidd  never  defend  states  that  were  not  his  own,  the  prince 
of  Edessa,  who  was  old  and  childless,  determined  to  adopt 
him  for  his  son  and  nominate  him  Ms  successor.  The  cere- 
mony of  the  adoption  was  performed  in  the  presence  of  the 
Ci-usaders  and  the  hihabitants.  According  to  the  custom  of 
the  Orientals,*  the  Greek  prince  made  Baldwin  pass  be- 
tween his  shirt  and  his  naked  skin,  and  kissed  liim  as  a  sign 
of  alliance  and  paternity.  The  aged  wife  of  the  governor 
repeated  the  same  ceremony,  and  from  that  time  Baldwin, 
considered  as  then'  son  and  heir,  neglected  nothing  for  the 
defence  of  a  cit}'  which  was  to  belong  to  him. 

An  Armenian  prince,  named  Constantine,  who  governed 
a  province  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Mount  Taurus,  had  also 
come  to  the  assistance  of  Edessa.  Baldwin,  seconded  by 
this  useful  auxiliarv.  and  followed  by  his  own  horsemen  and 
the  troops  of  Theodore,  took  the  field,  in  order  to  attack 


/•  /. 


*  Intra  lineam  interulam,  quam  nos  rocamus  cotnisiatn,  nudum  intrare 
eum  faciens,  sibi  adstrhijcit ;  et  deinde  omnia  osculo  libata  firmavit ; 
idem  et  mulier post  modum  fecit. — Guib.  Abb.  lib.  iii.  ad  finem. 


V 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  125 

tune,  hastened  to  Edessa,  to  increase  the  army  and  the  court 
of  the  new  monarch.  The  advantages  which  resulted  to  the 
Crusaders  from  the  foundation  of  this  new  state,  have  made 
their  historians  forget  that  they  were  the  fruit  of  injustice 
and  Aaolence.  The  principaHty  of  Edessa  served  as  a  check 
upon  the  Turks  and  the  Saracens,  and  was,  to  the  period  of 
the  second  crusade,  the  principal  bidwark  of  the  power  of 
the  Christians  in  the  East. 


\lil^ 


BOOK    III. 


A.D.  1097—1099. 

The  great  army  of  the  Crusaders  had  traversed  the  states 
of  the  sultan  of  !Xice  and  Iconium  ;  throughout  its  passage 
the  mosques  were  given  up  to  the  flames  or  converted  into 
churches :  but  the  Christians  had  neglected  to  fortify  the 
cities  of  which  they  had-rendered  themselves  masters,  or  to 
found  a  military  colony  in  a  country  wherein  the  Turks  were 
always  able  to  rally  and  re-establish  their  fonnidable  power. 
This  fault,  which  must  be  attributed  to  a  too  great  confidence 
in  victory,  became  fatal  to  the  Crusaders,  who,  in  the  midst 
of  their  tiiumphs,  lost  the  means  of  communication  -sNith 
Europe,  and  thus  deprived  themselves  of  the  assistance  they 
might  have  received  from  Greece  and  the  "U^est. 

TeiTor  opened  to  the  pilgrims  aU  the  passages  of  Mount 
Taurus.  Throughout  their  triumphant  march  the  Christians 
had  nothing  to  dread  but  famine,  the  heat  of  the  climate, 
and  the  badness  of  the  roads.  They  had,  particularly,  much 
to  suffer  in  crossins:  a  momitain  situated  between  Coxon  and 
Marash,  which  their  historians  denominate  '*  The  Mountain 
of  the  Devil.'"  This  mountain  Avas  very  steep,  and  offered 
only  one  narrow  path,  in  which  the  foot-soldiers  marched 
with  difficulty;  the  horses,  which  could  not  keep  their 
footinfj,  draiTojed  each  other  down  the  abvsses ;  and  the 
army  lost  a  great  part  of  its  baggage.  In  the  course  of  this 
disastrous  march,  savs  an  historian  who  was  an  eve-witness, 
the  soldiers  gave  themselves  up  to  despair,  and  refused  to 
proceed.  Being  encimibered  Vidth  their  arms,  they  either 
sold  them  at  a  low  price  or  cast  them  down  the  precipices.  On 
all  sides  were  to  be  seen  waniors  wounded  by  their  frequent 
falls,  and  pilgrims  exhausted  with  fatigue,  who  could  not  con- 
tinue their  route,  and  filled  the  air  and  mountains  with  their 
cries  and  groans.  The  passage  of  the  Christian  army  across 
this  mountain  occupied  several  days  ;  but  when  they  had  at 
length  passed  the  chains  of  Mount  Taurus  and  Mount 
Amanus,  the  sight  of  Syria  revived  their  courage,  and  made 


HISTORY    OF    TUE    CIUJSADE3.  123 

the  nearest  Turkish  cities.  lie  defeated  the  troops  of  the 
emir  Baidoukh  in  several  encounters,  and  forced  them  to 
retire  into  the  city  of  Samosata.  The  Christians  approached 
the  place,  pillaged  the  subiu-bs,  and  the  houses  of  the  neigh- 
bourhood, without  meeting  with  the  least  resistance ;  but  as 
they  were  engaged  in  dividing  their  booty,  they  were  attacked 
unexpectedly  by  the  infidels  and  routed.  After  having  lost 
two  thousand  lighting  men,  they  returned  to  Edessa,  where 
the  news  of  their  defeat  spread  the  greatest  consternation. 

Misunderstandings  soon  broke  out  between  Theodore  and 
Baldwin,  who  mutually  reproached  each  other  with  their 
reverses.  The  Edessenians,  who  had  declared  for  the  Cru- 
sader prince,  would  not  hear  of  any  other  master,  and  were 
not  long  in  satisfying  his  impatience  to  reign.  They  forgot 
that  Theodore^  by  his  courage  and  skill,  had  maintained  their 
independence  in  the  centre  of  a  country  constantly  exposed 
to  the  invasions  of  the  Mussulmans.  They  accused  him  of 
having  burdened  his  subjects  with  imposts,  to  satisfy  the 
avidity  of  the  Turks,  and  wdth  having  employed  the  power 
of  infidels  to  oppress  a  Christian  people.  They  formed,  says 
Matthew  of  Edessa,  a  plot  against  his  life,  of  which  Baldwin 
w^as  not  ignorant.  Warned  of  the  danger  which  threatened 
him,  Theodore  retired  into  the  citadel,  which  commanded 
the  city,  and  placed  no  reliance  on  anything  but  force  to 
defend  himself  against  the  seditious. 

Upon  this  a  most  furious  tumult  w'as  created  among  the 
people.  The  enraged  midtitude  flew  to  arms,  and  pillaged 
the  houses  of  the  inhabitants  who  were  suspected  of  being 
the  partisans  of  Theodore.  They  swore  to  treat  him  as  a 
declared  enemy.  They  attacked  the  citadel,  some  beating  in 
the  gates,  and  others  scaling  the  walls.  Theodore  seeing 
that  his  enemies  were  masters  of  one  part  of  the  ramparts, 
no  longer  endeavoured  to  defend  himself,  but  proposed  to 
capitulate.  He  agreed  to  abandon  the  place,  and  to  renounce 
the  government  of  Edessa,  requesting  permission  to  retire, 
with  his  family,  to  the  city  of  Melitene.  This  proposition 
was  accepted  with  joy ;  the  peace  was  signed,  and  the  inha- 
bitants of  Edessa  swore  upon  the  cross  and  the  Evangelists 
to  respect  the  conditions  of  it. 

On  the  following  day,  whilst  the  governor  was  preparing 
for  his  departure,  a  fresh  sedition  broke  out  in  the  city.  The 

7* 


124  HISTORY    or    TUE    CfiUSADES. 

factious  repented  of  ha-ving  allowed  a  prince  whom  they  had 
so  cruellv  outraged,  to  live.  Xew  accusations  were  brought 
against  him.  It  was  said  that  he  had  only  signed  the  peace 
Avith  perfidious  intentions.  The  furv  of  the  people  soon 
rose  above  all  bounds,  and  a  thousand  voices  demanded  the 
death  of  Theodore.  They  penetrated,  tumultuously,  into  the 
citadel,  seized  the  aged  governor  in  the  midst  of  his  family, 
and  precipitated  him  from  the  heights  of  the  ramparts. 
His  bleeding^  body  was  dragged  thi'ough  the  streets  by  the 
multitude,  who  prided  themselves  upon  ha^-ing  murdered  an 
old  man  as  much  as  if  they  had  gained  a  -^-ictory  over  the 
infidels. 

Bald^vin,  who  may,  at  least,  be  accused  of  not  having 
defended  his  adoptive  father,  was  soon  surrounded  by  all  the 
people  of  Edessa,  who  ofiered  hun  the  government  of  the 
cit}-.  He  refused  it  at  fii'st,  "but  in  the  end,"  says  an  old 
historian,  "  they  combated  his  objections  with  so  many 
reasons,  that  they  forced  him  to  consent,  and  estabhshed  him 
instead  of  the  other."  BaldAvin  was  proclaimed  hberator 
and  master  of  Edessa.  Seated  on  a  blood-^^^tained  throne, 
and  in  constant  di-ead  of  the  fickle  nature  of  the  people,  he 
soon  inspired  his  subjects  with  as  much  fear  as  his  enemies. 
"Wliilst  the  seditious  trembled  before  hun,  he  extended  the 
limits  of  his  territories.  He  puiThased  the  city  of  Samosata 
with  the  treasures  of  his  predecessor,  and  obtaiQed  posses- 
sion of  several  other  cities  by  force  of  arms.  As  fortune 
favoured  him  ia  everything,  the  loss  even,  which  he  had 
lately  experienced,  of  his  wife,  Gundechilde,  promoted  his 
projects  of  aggi-andizement.  He  espoused  the  niece  of  an 
Ai-menian  prince,  and  by  that  new  alliance  he  extended  his 
possessions  as  far  as  ]\Iount  Taurus.  All  Mesopotamia,  with 
both  shores  of  the  Euphrates,  acknowledged  his  authority, 
and  Asia  then  beheld  a  French  knight  reigning  without  dis- 
pute over  the  richest  provinces  of  the  ancient  kingdom  of 
Assyria. 

Baldwin  thought  no  more  of  the  dehverance  of  Jerusalem, 
but  gave  all  his  attention  to  the  defence  and  aggrandizement 
of  his  states.*     3Iany  knights,  dazzled  by  such  a  rapid  for- 

*  In  the  first  book  of  the  Jerusalem  Delivered,  when  the  Eternai 
turns  his  eyes  on  the  Crusaders,  he  sees  in  Edessa  the  ambitious  Baldwin, 
who  only  aspires  to  human  grandeurs,  with  which  he  is  solely  occupied. 


niSTORY    OF   THE    CEUSADES.  129 

the  power  of  the  Saracens,  in  the  first  age  of  the  Hegira ; 
it  was  afterwards  retaken  by  the  Greeks,  under  Nicephorus 
Phocas  ;  and,  fourteen  years  before,  the  Turks  had  rendered 
themselves  masters  of  it.  At  the  approach  of  the  Christians, 
the  greater  part  of  the  Saracens  of  the  neighbouring  cities 
and  provinces  had  sought  security  in  Antioch  for  them- 
selves, their  ^^dves,  and  treasures.  Baghisian,*  or  Accien, 
grandson  of  Malek-Scha,  who  had  obtained  the  sovereignty 
of  the  city,  had  shut  himself  up  in  it,  with  seven  thousand 
horse  and  twenty  thousand  foot-soldiers. 

The  siege  of  Antioch  presented   many  difficulties   and 
dangers.     The  chiefs  of  the  Crusaders  deliberated  upon  the 
propriety  of  imdertaking  it ;  and  the  first  who  spoke  in  the 
council  thought  that  it  would  be  imprudent  to  commence  a 
siege  at  the  beginning  of  wiater.     They  did  not  dread  the 
arms  of  the  Saracens,  but  the  rains,  the  tempests,  and  the 
horrors  of  famine.     Thev  advised  the  Crusaders  to  await  in 
the  provinces  and  neighboui'ing  cities  the  arrival  of  the  aid 
promised  by  Alexius,  and  the  return  of  spring,  by  which  time 
the  army  would  have  repaired  its  losses,  and  received  beneath 
its   standards  fresh  reinforcements  from  the  AYest.     This 
counsel  was  listened  to  ^ith  much  impatience  by  the  greater 
part  of  the   leaders,   among  whom  were  conspicuous  the 
legate  Adhemar  and  the  duke  of  Lorraine.     "  Ought  we 
not,  at  once,"  said  they,  "to  take  advantage  of  the  terror 
spread  among  the  enemy  ?     Is  it  right  to  leave  them  time 
to  rally  and  recover  from  their  alarm  ?     Is  it  not  well  kno\vn 
that  they  have  implored  the  succour  of  the  caliph  of  Bagdad 
and  the  sultan  of  Persia  ?     Every  moment  of  delay  may 
strengthen  the  armies    of   the    Mussulmans,  and  rob  the 
Christians  of  the  fruits  of  their  victories.     You  talk  of  the 
arrival  of  the  Greeks  ;  but  do  we  stand  in  need  of  the  Greeks 
to  attack  enemies  already  many  times  conquered  ?     Was  it 
necessary  to  await  for  new  Crusaders  from  the  West,  who 

*  The  name  of  this  Seljoucide  prince  has  been  disfigured  by  the  greater 
part  of  the  Latin  historians.  Tudebode  and  the  monk  Robert  call  him 
Cassianns;  Foucher  de  Chartres,  Gratianus ;  William  of  Tyre,  Acxianus; 
Albert  d'Aix,  Darsianus :  M.  de  Guignes,  and  the  greater  part  of  the 
Orientalists,  call  him,  after  Abulfeda,  Baghistan;  but  in  oiher  Oriental 
historians  he  is  named  Akby  Syran  (brother  of  the  black),  which  is  more 
conformable  to  the  corrupt  name  of  Accien,  which  he  bears  in  our 
"  History  of  the  Crusades." 


130  IIISTOEY    or    THE    CRUSADES. 

Tvould  come  to  share  tlie  glories  and  the  conquests  of  the 
Christian  army,  ^^ithout  having  shared  its  dangers  and  its 
labours  r  As  to  the  rigours  of  winter,  which  they  appeared 
so  much  to  di-ead,  it  was  an  insult  to  the  soldiers  of  Jesus 
Christ  to  think  them  incapable  of  endiu-ing  cold  and  rain. 
It  was,  in  some  sort,  to  compare  them  to  those  birds  of 
passage  which  fly  away  and  hide  themselves  in  secret  places, 
when  they  see  the  bad  season  approach.*  It  was,  besides, 
impossible  to  think  that  a  siege  could  be  protracted  to  any 
length  with  an  army  full  of  ardour  and  courage.  The  Cru- 
saders had  only  to  remember  the  siege  of  ]S'ice,  the  battle 
of  Dorylfeum,  and  a  thousand  other  exploits.  AVhy  should 
they  be  restrained  by  the  fear  of  want  and  famine  r  Had 
they  not  hitherto  found  in  war  all  the  resources  of  war  ? 
Thev  must  know  that  victory  had  always  suppUed  the  wants 
of  the  Crusaders,  and  that  abundance  awaited  them  in  that 
city  of  Antioch,  which  would  not  be  long  in  opening  its 
gates  to  them." 

This  discourse  won  over  the  most  ardent  and  the  most 
brave.  Such  as  entertained  a  contrary  opinion  dreaded  to 
be  accused  of  timidity,  and  remained  silent.  The  council 
decided  that  the  siege  of  Antioch  should  at  once  be  com- 
menced :  and  on  that  verv  day  the  whole  Cliristian  army 
advanced  under  the  walls  of  the  city.  Bohemond  and  Tan- 
cred  took  their  posts  on  the  east,  opposite  the  gate  of  St. 
Paul ;  to  the  right  of  the  Italians  were  the  Xormans,  the 
Bretons,  the  Flemings,  and  the  French,  commanded  by  the 
two  Eoberts ;  the  count  de  Yermandois  and  the  count  de 
Chartres  encamped  towards  the  north,  opposite  the  gate  of 
the  Dog ;  the  count  of  Thoulouse,  the  bishop  of  Puy,  and 
the  duke  of  Lorraine,  ^vith  the  troops  they  commanded, 
occupied  the  space  which  extended  from  the  gate  of  the 
Dog  to  the  spot  where  the  Orontes  turning  towards  the  west 
approaches  the  walls  of  Antioch.  The  Crusaders  left  open 
the  southern  part,  defended  by  the  mountain  of  Orontes,  and 
likewise  neglected  to  invest  the  western  side  of  the  city, 

*  Plurimum  quoque  interest  ad  disciplinam  militiae,  insuescere  milites 
nostros,  non  solum  parta  victoria  frui,  sed  si  etiam  res  sit  lentior,  pati 
tadium,  et  quamvis  serae  spei  exitum  eispectare,  nee  »tcut  eestivas  aveSy 
instante  hyeme,  tecta  ae  recessum  circumspicere . — Accolti,  de  Bello 
contra  Turcas,  lib.  ii. 


HISTOEY    or    THE    CRUSADES.  127 

them  quickly  forget  all  their  fatigues.  That  country  into 
which  they  were  about  to  enter  embraced  within  its  terri- 
tories Palestine,  the  object  of  all  their  wishes,  prayers,  and 
labours.  In  all  ages  Syria  has  attracted  conquerors,  by  the 
fertility  of  its  soil  and  its  wealth.  In  the  time  of  David  and 
Solomon,  it  already  boasted  sevei-al  flourishing  cities.  At 
the  period  of  the  Crusades  it  had  undergone  a  great  many 
re^'olutions,  but  its  fields,  though  covered  with  celebrated 
ruins,  still  preserved  some  portion  of  their  fecundity. 

The  first  of  the  Syrian  provinces  that  presented  itself  to 
the  eyes  of  the  Christians  was  the  territory  of  Antioch. 
Towards  the  east  extended  the  states  of  the  sultans  of 
Aleppo  and  Mousoul.  Further,  at  the  foot  of  Mount 
Libanus,  was  seen  the  principality  of  Damascus ;  on  the 
coast  stood  Laodicea,  Tripoli,  and  the  cities  of  Sidon  and 
Tyre,  so  celebrated  in  both  sacred  and  profane  antiquity. 
All  these  cities,  which  scarcely  maintained  a  shadow  of  their 
former  splendour,  were  governed  by  emirs  who  had  shaken 
off  the  yoke  of  the  sultans  of  Persia,  and  reigned  as  sovereign 
princes  over  the  ruins  of  the  empire  of  Malek-Scha. 

The  Crusaders  advanced  as  far  as  the  ancient  Chalcis, 
then  called  Artesia,  of  which  they  made  themselves  masters. 
To  arrive  before  Antioch  they  had  to  pass  over  a  bridge 
built  over  the  Orontes,  and  defended  by  two  towers  masked 
with  iron.  JS^othing  could  resist  the  van,  commanded  by  the 
duke  of  JNTormandy.  The  Normans  soon  got  possession  of 
the  bridge,  and  passed  the  river.  Terror  seized  upon  the 
Mussulman  ranks,  and  they  sought  shelter,  with  the  greatest 
haste,  within  the  walls  of  the  city.  The  whole  Christian 
army,  drawn  up  in  battle  array,  with  trumpets  sounding 
and  flags  flying,  marched  towards  Antioch  and  encamped 
within  a  mile  of  its  walls. 

The  sight  of  this  city,  so  celebrated  in  the  annals  of 
Christianity,  revived  the  enthusiasm  of  the  Crusaders.  It 
was  within  the  walls  of  xlntioch  that  the  disciples  of  Jesus 
Christ  first  assumed  the  title  of  Christians,  and  the  apostle 
Peter  was  named  the  first  pastor  of  the  young  church.  No 
city  had  contained  within  its  bosom  a  greater  number  of 
martyrs,  saints,  and  doctors ;  no  city  had  beheld  more 
miracles  worked  for  the  faith.  During  many  centuries,  the 
faithful  had  been   accustomed   to    come    into   one   of  its 


128  niSTOEY    OF    THE    CErsAD£S. 

subui'bs  to  pray  at  the  tomb  of  St.  Babvlas,  who,  during 
the  reign  of  Julian,  had  silenced  the  oracles  of  Apollo.  For 
a  long  time  Antioch  was  considered  in  Christendom  as  the 
eldest  daughter  of  Sion ;  it  bore  the  name  of  Theopolis  (the 
city  of  God),  and  pilgrims  visited  it  with  no  less  respect 
than  Jerusalem. 

Antioch  was  as  much  celebrated  in  the  annals  of  Rome  as 
in  those  of  the  Church.  The  magnificence  of  its  edifices  and 
the  residence  of  several  emperors  had  obtained  it  the  name 
of  the  Queen  of  the  East.  Its  situation,  amidst  a  smiling 
and  fertile  country,  attracted  strangers  to  it  at  all  times. 
At  two  leagues  eastward  was  a  lake  abounding  in  fish, 
which  communicated  with  the  Orontes  ;  whilst  on  the  south, 
were  the  submbs  and  the  fountain  of  Daphne,  so  renowned 
in  paganism.  Kot  far  from  this  arose  the  mountain  of 
Orontes,  covered  with  gardens  and  country  houses ;  on  the 
north  was  another  mountain,  sometimes  called  the  Black 
Mountain,  on  account  of  its  forests,  and  sometimes  the 
Water  Mountain,  on  accoimt  of  its  numerous  springs.  The 
river  Orontes*  flowed  at  the  foot  of  the  ramparts  of  Antioch 
towards  the  west,  and  fell  into  the  sea  at  a  distance  of  tlu'ee 
or  four  leagues  from  the  city. 

Within  the  walls  were  four  hills  separated  by  a  torrent, 
which  cast  itself  into  the  river.  Upon  the  western  hill  was 
built  a  very  strong  citadel,  which  dominated  over  the  city. 
The  ramparts  of  Antioch,  whose  sohdity  equalled  that  of  a 
rock,  were  three  leagues  in  extent.  "  This  place,"  says  an 
old  author,  "  was  an  object  of  terror  to  those  who  looked 
upon  it,  for  the  number  of  its  strong  and  vast  towers,  which 
amounted  to  three  hundred  and  sixtv."  Wide  ditches,  the 
river  Orontes  and  marshes,  still  further  protected  the  inha- 
bitants of  Antioch,  and  cut  off  an  approach  to  the  city. 

In  spite  of  all  these  fortifications  of  nature  and  art,t 
Antioch  had  been  several  times  taken.     It  fell  at  once  into 

*  At  the  present  day  named  Aassy  (the  Rebel),  or  el  Macloub,  the 
Reversed,  because  it  flows  from  south  to  north,  an  opposite  direction  to 
that  of  the  other  rivers  of  the  same  country. 

t  Ancient  Antioch  is  not  to  be  recognised  in  the  straggling  village 
that  the  Turks  call  Antakie;  it  is  even  suflBciently  difficult  to  ascertain  its 
ancient  extent.  We  may  consult  the  description  of  it  given  by  Pococke 
and  Drummond,  and  compare  it  with  that  which  is  said  by  Raymond 
d' Agiles,  Albert  d'Aix,  William  of  Tyre,  and  the  ancient  historians. 


HISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  131 

tvhicli  the  river  protected,  and  thus  gave  the  besieged  liberty 
to  make  sorties  or  receive  succours. 

The  Tui'ks  had  shut  themselves  up  within  their  walls  ;  not 
a  soul  appeared  upon  the  ramparts,  and  not  the  least  noise 
■was  heard  in  the  citv.  The  Crusaders  fancied  that  they  saw 
in  this  appearance  of  inaction  and  this  profound  silence  the 
discouragement  and  terror  which  had  taken  possession  of 
their  enemies.  Eliuded  by  the  hope  of  an  easy  conquest,  they 
took  no  precautions,  and  spread  themselves  about  over  the 
neighboimng  country.  The  abundance  of  ^orovisions,  the 
beautifid  sky  of  Syria,  the  fountain  and  the  shades  of 
Daphne,  and  the  banks  of  the  Orontes,  famous  in  Pagan 
antiquity  for  the  worship  of  Venus  aud  Adonis,  made  them 
lose  sight  of  the  holy  war,  and  spread  license  and  corruption 
among  the  soldiers  of  Christ. 

AVhilst  they  thus  neglected,  amongst  scenes  of  intem- 
perance and  debauchery,  the  laws  of  disciplme  and  the 
precepts  of  the  Scriptures,  they  were  attacked  by  the  gar- 
rison of  Antioch,  which  surprised  them,  some  scarcely 
guarding  the  camp,  and  the  rest  scattered  about  in  the 
neighbouring  country.  All  Avhom  the  hopes  of  pillage  or 
the  attractions  of  pleasure  had  di^awn  into  the  villages  and 
orchards  bordering  upon  the  Orontes,  met  with  either  slavery 
or  death.  Young  Alberon,  archdeacon  of  Metz,  and  son  of 
Coiu-ad,  comit  of  Lunebourg,  paid  with  his  life  for  the  enjoy- 
ment of  amusements  which  accorded  but  very  little  with  the 
austerit}^  of  his  profession.  He  was  surprised  by  the  Turks* 
at  the  moment  when,  stretched  upon  the  grass,  he  was 
playing  at  dice  with  a  Syrian  courtezan.  His  head  was 
struck  off  with  one  blow  of  a  sabre.  The  courtezan  was 
not  killed  till  she  had  satisfied  the  brutal  passion  of  their 
conqueror.  Their  heads,  with  those  of  a  great  number  of 
Christians,  were  cast  into  the  camp  of  the  Crusaders,  who 
now  deplored  their  disorders,  and  swore  to  take  revenge  for 
their  defeat. 

The  desire  to  repair  one  fault  made  them  commit  another. 

*  Alearum  ludo  pariter  recreari  et  occupari  cum  matrona  quadam,  quae 
magnae  erat  ingenuitatis  et  formositatis.  jNIatronam  vero  vivara,  et  intac- 
tam  armis,  rapientes  traxerunt  in  urbem,  per  totam  noctem  immoderatse 
libidinis  suce  incesto  concubitu  earn  vexantes,  nihilque  humanitatis  in 
earn  exhibentes. — Alb.  Aq.  lib.  iii.  p.  46. 


132  HISTOEY    or    THE    CEUSJLDES. 

Thev  resolved  upon  scaling  tlie  walls  of  Aiitioch,  without 
ha\T.'ng  either  ladders  or  machines  of  war.  The  signal  was 
triveu  for  a  general  assault.  Vengeance  and  fanaticiism 
animated  both  soldiers  and  leaders ;  but  their  eftbrts  could 
neither  shake  the  walls  of  the  city,  nor  disturb  the  security 
of  the  besieged.  Their  attacks,  though  renewed  several 
times  and  at  several  points,  were  always  unsuccessful. 
Experience,  for  whose  lessons  they  always  paid  so  dearly,  at 
length  taught  them,  that  if  they  wished  to  make  themselves 
masters  of  the  place,  no  other  means  was  left  them  but  to 
invest  it  completely,  and  prevent  the  arrival  of  any  succour 
from  without. 

Thev  established  a  bridge  of  boats  upon  the  Orontes,  and 
passed  some  troops  over  towards  the  western  side  of  the 
citv.  All  the  means  in  their  power  were  employed  to  stoj) 
the  sorties  of  the  enemy — sometimes  they  erected  wooden 
fortresses  near  the  ramparts,  whilst  at  others  they  prepared 
baUstas,  which  launched  large  stones  upon  the  besieged.  The 
Crusaders,  in  order  to  close  the  gate  of  the  Dog  upon  the 
Tui'ks,  were  obliged  to  heap  up  against  it  enormous  beams 
and  fragments  of  rock.  At  the  same  time  they  intrenched 
their  camp,  and  redoubled  their  efforts  to  secui'e  themselves 
against  siu'prise  on  the  part  of  the  Saracens. 

The  Christian  army  was  now  solely  occupied  with  the 
blockade  of  the  citv.  Although  this  determination  was 
dictated  by  imperious  necessity,  the  slowness  of  a  siege  did 
not  at  all  agree  -with  the  impatience  of  the  warriors  of  the 
"West.  On  their  arrival  before  Antioch,  the  Chi-istian  sol- 
diers had  dissipated  in  a  few  days  the  provisions  of  several 
months :  thev  had  onlv  thought  of  fighting  the  enemv  in 
the  field  of  battle,  and,  ever  full  of  confidence  in  victory, 
thev  had  neither  sought  to  protect  themselves  against  the 
rigours  of  ^^^.nter,  nor  to  prevent  the  approaches  of  the 
famine  with  which  they  were  threatened. 

The  want  of  provisions  was  not  long  before  it  was  felt. 
As  soon  as  winter  had  set  in,  they  found  tliemselves  a  prey 
to  every  species  of  calamity.  Ton-ents  of  rain  fell  daily, 
and  the  plains,  an  abode  upon  which  had  rendered  the  soldiers 
of  Christ  efieminate,  were  almost  all  buried  beneath  the 
waters.  The  Christian  camp,  particularly  in  the  vaUey,  was 
submerged  several  times ;  tempests  and  inundations  carried 


IIISTOIIY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  133 

away  tlie  pavilions  and  tents ;  moisture  relaxed  the  bows ; 
and  rust  gnawed  into  both  lances  and  swords.  The  greater 
part  of  the  soldiers  Avere  without  clothes  ;  and  contagious 
diseases  carried  off  both  men  and  animals.  Eains,  cold, 
famine,  epidemic  diseases,  made  such  ravages,  that,  according 
to  the  report  of  William  of  Tyre,  the  Crusaders  had  not 
either  time  or  space  to  bury  their  dead.* 

In  the  midst  of  the  general  distress,  Bohemond  and 
the  duke  of  Normandy  were  commissioned  to  go  and  scour 
the  country  in  search  of  provisions.  In  the  course  of 
their  incursion  they  defeated  several  detachments  of  Sara- 
cens, and  returned  to  the  camp  Avith  a  considerable  booty. 
But  the  provisions  they  brought  could  not  be  sufficient  to 
support  a  large  army  for  any  length  of  time  ;  every  da}^  they 
made  fresh  incursions,  and  every  day  were  less  successful. 
All  the  country  of  Upper  Syria  had  been  ravaged  by  the 
Turks  and  Christians.  The  Crusaders  Avho  were  sent  on 
these  foraging  parties  often  put  the  infidels  to  flight;  but  vic- 
tory, which  was  almost  always  their  only  resource  in  moments 
of  want,  could  not  bring  back  abundance  to  their  camp. 

To  fill  up  the  measure  of  their  miseries,  all  communication 
was  stopped  with  Constantinople ;  the  fleets  of  the  Pisans 
and  Genoese  no  longer  coasted  the  countries  occupied  by 
the  Crusaders.  The  port  of  St.  Simeon,  situated  at  three 
leagues  from  Antioch,  saw  no  vessel  now  arrive  from  either 
Greece  or  the  West.  The  Flemish  pirates,  who  had  taken 
up  the  cross  at  -Tarsus,  after  possessing  themselves  of  Lao- 
dicea,  had  been  surprised  by  the  Greeks,  and  Avere  detained 
prisoners  during  several  Aveeks.  The  darkest  future  lay 
before  the  Christians  ;  they  no  longer  talked  of  anything  but 
of  the  losses  they  had  sustained,  and  of  the  evils  with  Avhich 
they  Avere  threatened ;  each  day  the  most  afflicting  intel- 
ligence was  spread  through  the  array. 

It  Avas  said  that  the  son  of  Savcuo,  king  of  Denmark, 
Avho  had  assumed  the  cross,  and  was  leading  fifteen  hundred 
horsemen  to  the  holy  Avar,  had  been  surprised  by  the  Turks 

*  We  have  taken  the  details  of  the  siege  of  Antioch  from  the  following 
authors :  William  of  Tyre,  Albert  d'Aix,  Baudry,  Robert,  Tudebode, 
Raymond  d'Agiles,  Guibert,  Raoul  de  Caen,  Foiicher  de  Chartres, 
Oderic-Vital,  Paul  Emile,  Bernard  Thesaurius,  Accolti,  Duchat,  Mailly, 
De  Guignes,  Albufaradge,  &c.  &c. 


134  UISTOET    OF    THE    CltUSADES. 

whilst  advancing  rapidly  across  the  defiles  of  Cappadocia. 
Attacked  bv  an  enemy  superior  in  numbers,  he  had  defended 
himself  during  a  whole  day,  ^vithout  being  able  to  repulse 
the  infidels,  ^Yith  all  the  eftorts  of  his  corn-age  or  the  battle- 
axes  of  his  warriors.  Tlorine,  daughter  of  Eudes  I.,  duke  of 
Biu'gundy,  who  accompanied  the  Danish  hero,  and  to  whom 
he  was  to  be  married  after  the  taking  of  Jerusalem,  had 
valiantly  fought  by  his  side.  Pierced  by  seven  arrows,  but 
still  fighting,  she  sought  with  Sweno  to  open  a  passage 
towards  the  mountains,  when  they  were  overwhelmed  by 
their  enemies.  They  fell  together  on  the  field  of  battle,  after 
having  seen  all  their  kniofhts  and  their  most  faithful  servants 
perish  around  them.  "  Such  were  the  news  that  came  to 
the  camp  of  the  Christians,"  says  AYilliam  of  T}Te,  "and  so 
full  were  they  of  sadness  and  grief,  that  more  than  ever  were 
their  hearts  depressed  with  the  increase  of  their  calamities."  * 
Each  succeeding  day  famine  and  disease  made  greater 
ravages.  The  provisions  t  brought  to  the  camp  by  a  few 
S^Tians  were  at  so  high  a  price  that  the  soldiers  could  not 
obtain  any  ;  the  multitude  filled  the  camp  with  lamentations, 
and  there  was  not  a  Crusader  who  had  not  to  weep  for  the 
death  of  several  of  his  companions.  Desertion  was  soon 
added  to  the  other  scourges.  The  greater  part  of  the  Cru- 
saders had  lost  all  hope  of  taking  Antioch,  or  of  ever  reaching 

*  The  historian  of  Burgundy,  Urbain  Plancher,  without  alleging  any 
reason,  and  without  quoting  any  authority,  treats  thjs  event  as  a  fahle, 
although  it  is  attested  by  William  of  Tyre,  Albert  d'Aix,  and  several  other 
nearly  contemporary  historians.  Mallet  says  nothing  of  it  in  his  "  His- 
tory of  Denmark;"  nevertheless  Langbeck,  in  his  collection  of  the  Danish 
historians,  says  he  has  seen  a  basso-relievo,  in  bronze,  in  which  the  Sweno, 
of  whom  this  history  speaks,  is  represented  with  the  attributes  of  a 
Crusader.  This  basso-relievo  was  executed  by  the  order  of  Christian  V.  ; 
at  the  bottom  of  the  portrait  of  Sweno  are  several  Latin  verses  which 
describe  his  glorious  and  tragical  death.  The  "  Scriptores  Rerum  Dani- 
carum"  may  be  consulted  for  the  dissertation  in  which  Langbeck  dis- 
cusses the  passages  of  the  ancient  historians,  and  clearly  demonstrates  the 
truth  of  their  accounts.  This  dissertation  is  entitled,  "  Infelix  Suenonis 
Danici  adversus  Turcas." 

t  According  to  William  of  Tyre,  the  bread  which  sufficed  for  the  daily 
food  of  one  man  cost  two  sous  instead  of  a  denier ;  an  ox  two  marks  of 
silver,  instead  of  five  sous ;  a  kid  or  a  lamb  five  or  six  sous,  instead  of 
three  or  four  deniers  ;  the  expense  of  a  horse  for  a  single  night  arose  as 
high  as  eight  sous,  whilst  it  had  only  been  two  or  three  deniers  at  the 
commencement  ot  the  siege. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CErSADES.  135 

the  Holy  Land.  Some  sought  refuge  from  misery  in  Meso- 
potamia, now  governed  by  Baldwin  ;  whilst  others  repaired 
to  the  cities  of  Cilicia  which  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the 
Christians. 

The  duke  of  Normandy  withdrew  to  Laodicea,  and  did 
not  return  until  he  had  received  three  summonses  from  the 
army  in  the  name  of  religion  and  of  Jesus  Clu-ist.  Tatius, 
the  general  of  Alexius,  quitted  the  camp  of  the  Crusaders 
with  the  troops  he  commanded,  promising  to  return  with 
reinforcements  and  provisions.  His  departure  caused  little 
regret,  and  his  promises,  in  which  they  had  no  confidence, 
did  not  at  all  alle\date  the  despair  of  the  sufferers.  This 
despair  was  carried  to  its  height  among  the  defenders  of  the 
cross  Avhen  thev  saw  those  who  ouofht  to  have  set  them  an 
example  of  patience  and  courage  desert  them.  William, 
viscount  de  Melun,  whose  extraordinary  exploits  with  the 
battle-axe  had  procured  him  the  name  of  the  Carpenter, 
could  not  support  the  miseries  of  the  siege,  and  deserted  the 
standard  of  Christ,*  Tlie  preacher  of  the  crusade,  Peter 
the  Hermit,  whom  the  Christians,  doubtless,  blamed  for  all 
the  miseries  of  the  siege,  was  unable  to  bear  their  complaints 
or  share  their  misfortunes  ;  and  despairing  of  the  success  of 
the  expedition,  he  fled  secretly  from  the  camp.f  His  deser- 
tion caused  a  great  scandal  among  the  pilgrims,  "  and  did 
not  astonish  them  less,"  says  Abbot  Gruibert,  "than  if  the 
stars  had  fallen  from  the  heavens."  Pursued  and  overtaken 
by  Tancred,  he  and  William  the  Carpenter  were  brought 
back  disgraced  to  the  camp.  The  army  reproached  Peter 
with  his  base  desertion,  and  made  him  sM'ear  upon  the  Scrip- 
tures that  he  would  never  again  abandon  a  cause  which  he 
had  preached.  They  threatened  with  the  punishment  usually 
inflicted  upon  homicides  all  M'ho  should  follow  the  example 
he  had  given  to  his  companions  and  brothers. 

But  in  the  midst  of  the  corruption  which  reigned  in  the 
Christian  army,  ^drtue  itself  might  have  thought  of  flight, 
and  have  excused  desertion.     If  contemporary  accounts  are 

*  Sed  non  hoc  metu  prseliorum,  ut  speramus,  fecerat ;  sed  tantum  famis 
injuriam  pati  nunquam  didicerat. — Rob.  Mon.  lib.  iv. 

•f  This  great  faster,  says  IMaimbourg,  who  by  a  voluntary  austerity 
which  had  acquired  him  such  a  great  reputation  of  sanctity,  made  profes- 
sion to  eat  neither  bread  nor  meat,  could  not  endure  a  necessary  fast. 


136  HlSTOltT    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

to  be  credited,  all  the  vices  of  the  infamous  Babylon  pre- 
vailed among  the  liberators  of  Sion.  Strange  and  unheard-of 
spectacle !  Beneath  the  tents  of  the  Crusaders  famine  and 
voluptuousness  formed  a  hideous  union;  impure  love,  an 
unbounded  passion  for  play,  with  all  the  excesses  of 
debauch,  were  mingled  with  images  of  death.*  In  their 
misfortunes,  the  greater  part  of  the  pilgrims  seemed  to 
disdain  the  consolations  that  might  have  been  derived  from 
piety  and  virtue. 

And  yet  the  bishop  of  Buy,  and  the  more  -virtuous  portion 
of  the  clergy  used  every  effort  to  reform  the  manners  of  the 
Crusaders.  They  caused  the  voice  of  religion  to  hurl  its 
thunders  asjainst  the  excesses  of  libertinism  and  licentious- 
ness.  They  recalled  to  their  minds  all  the  evils  that  the 
Christian  army  had  suffered,  and  attributed  them  entirely  to 
the  vices  and  debaucheries  of  the  defenders  of  the  cross. 
An  earthquake  which  was  felt  at  this  time,  an  aurora  borealis, 
which  was  a  new  phenomenon  to  great  part  of  the  pilgrim.s, 
were  pointed  out  to  them  as  an  announcement  of  the  anger 
of  Heaven.  Fasts  and  prayers  were  ordered,  to  avert  tlie 
celestial  indignation.  The  Crusaders  made  processions 
round  the  camp,  and  hymns  of  penitence  resounded  from  all 
parts:  The  priests  invoked  the  wrath  of  the  Church  against 
all  who  should  betray  the  cause  of  Christ  by  their  sins.  To 
add  to  the  terrors  which  the  threats  of  religion  inspired,  a 
tribunal,  composed  of  the  principal  leaders  of  the  army  and 
the  clergy,  was  charged  with  the  pursuit  and  punishment  of 
the  guilty.  Men  surprised  in  a  state  of  intoxication  had 
their  hair  cut  off;  whilst  blasphemers,  or  such  as  gave  them- 
selves up  to  a  passion  for  play,  were  branded  with  a  hot  iron. 
A  monk  accused  of  adultery,  and  convicted  by  the  ordeal 
of  fire,  was  beaten  with  rods,  and  led  naked  through  the 
camp.  As  the  judges  became  aware  of  the  guilty,  they  must 
have  been  terrified  at  their  numbers.  The  severest  punish- 
ments coidd  not  entirely  stop  the  prostitution  whicli  had 
become  almost  general.  They  determined  upon  shutting 
up  all  the  women  in  a  separate  camp — an  extreme  and  im- 
prudent measure,  which  confounded  vice  and  virtue,  and 

*  Et  quis  esse  poterat  aditus  voluptatis,  ubi  erat  indesinens  suspicio 
mortis  ! — Guib.  lib.  vi.  cap.  15. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  137 

produced  crimes  more  disgraceful  than  those  they  desired  to 
prevent. 

Among  all  these  calamities,  the  camp  of  the  Crusaders 
was  filled  with  Syrian  spies,  who  daily  bore  into  the  city 
accounts  of  the  plans,  the  distress,  and  the  despair  of  the 
besiegers.  Bohemond,  in  order  to  deliver  the  army,  employed 
a  means  of  a  nature  to  disgust  CA^en  barbarians.  My  pen 
refuses  to  trace  such  pictures,  and  I  leave  William  of  T}Te, 
or  rather  his  old  translator,  to  speak.  "  Bohemond,"  says 
he,  "  commanded  that  several  Turks,  M'hom  he  held  in  close 
confinement,  should  be  brought  before  him.  These  he 
caused  instantly  to  be  executed  by  the  hands  of  the  officers 
of  justice,  and  then  ordering  a  great  fire  to  be  lighted,  he 
had  them  spitted  and  roasted,  as  flesh  prepared  for  the 
supper  of  himself  and  his  troops ;  at  the  same  time  com- 
manding, that  if  any  one  made  inquiries  about  what  was 
going  on,  that  they  should  be  answered  in  this  fashion: 
'  The  princes  and  rulers  of  the  camp  have  this  day  decreed 
in  council,  that  all  Turks  or  spies  that  shall  henceforward  he 
found  in  their  camp,  shall  he,  in  this  maimer,  forced  to  make 
meat  icith  their  oivn  bodies,  as  ivell  for  the  princes  as  the 
tvhole  army.^  " 

The  servants  of  Bohemond  executed  exactly  the  orders 
and  instructions  which  he  had  given  them.  The  strangers 
who  were  in  the  camp  soon  flocked  to  the  quarters  of  the 
prince  of  Tarentum,  and  when  they  saw  what  was  going  on, 
adds  our  ancient  author,  ivere  marvellously  terrified,  fearing 
to  share  the  fate  of  the  victims.  They  made  haste  to  quit 
the  camp  of  the  Christians,  and  everywhere  on  their  road 
spread  an  account  of  that  which  they  had  seen.  Their  story 
flew  from  mouth  to  mouth,  even  to  tlie  most  distant  countries  : 
the  inhabitants  of  Antioch,  and  all  the  Mussulmans  of  the 
Syrian  cities,  were  seized  with  terror,  and  no  more  ventured 
to  approach  the  camp  of  the  Crusaders.  "  By  these  means," 
says  the  historian  we  have  above  quoted,  "  it  ensued  from 
the  cunning  and  conduct  of  the  seigneiir  Bohemond,  that 
the  pest  of  spies  was  banished  from  the  camp,  and  the 
enterprises  of  the  Christians  were  not  divulged  to  the 
enemy." 

The  bishop  of  Buy,  at  the  same  time,  employed  a  strata- 
gem much  more  innocent  and  conformable  with  the  spirit  of 


138  HISTOET    OF    THE    CEL'SADES. 

liis  ministiy  and  his  profession.  He  caused  tlae  lands  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Antioch  to  be  ploughed  and  sowed,  in 
order  to  protect  the  Cln^stian  armv  from  the  attacks  of 
famine,  and,  at  the  same  time  to  lead  the  Saracens  to  believe 
that  nothing  could  exhaust  the  perseverance  of  the  besiegers. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  winter  was  stealing  away ;  the  con- 
tagious diseases  committed  fewer  ravages ;  and  the  princes 
and  the  monasteries  of  Armenia  sent  pro^'isions  to  the 
Christians.*  The  famine  began  to  be  less  felt.  The  ameh- 
oration  in  the  condition  of  the  pilgrims  was  attributed  to 
their  penitence  and  their  conversion ;  and  they  returned 
thanks  to  Heaven  for  ha^■ino;  made  them  better  and  more 
worthy  of  its  protection  and  mercy. 

It  was  at  this  period  that  ambassadors  from  the  caliph  of 
Egvpt  arrived  in  the  camp  of  the  Crusaders.  In  the  pre- 
sence of  the  infidels  the  Christian  soldiers  endeavoured  to 
conceal  the  traces  and  remembrances  of  the  lengthened 
miseries  thev  had  undersrone.  Thev  clothed  themselves  in 
their  most  precious  vestments,  and  displayed  their  most 
brilhant  arms.  Knights  and  barons  contended  for  the  glory 
of  strength  and  skill  in  tournaments.  Xothing  was  seen 
but  dancing  and  festivity,  amidst  which  abundance  and  joy 
appeared  to  reign.  The  Egyptian  ambassadors  were  received 
in  a  magnificent  tent,  in  which  were  assembled  all  the  prin- 
cipal leaders  of  the  army.  They  did  not  disguise,  in  their 
address,  the  extreme  aversion  that  their  master  had  always 
entertained  for  an  alliauce  "«"ith  the  Christians ;  but  the 
victories  which  the  Crusaders  had  gained  over  the  Turks, 
those  eternal  enemies  of  the  race  of  Ali,  had  led  him  to 
beheve  that  God  himself  had  sent  them  into  Asia,  as  the 
instruments  of  his  vengeance  and  justice.  The  Eg\'prian 
caliph  was  disposed  to  ally  himself  with  the  rietorious 
Christians,  and  was  preparing  to  enter  Palestine  and  Svria. 
As  he  had  learnt  that  the  wishes  of  the  Crusaders  were 
confined  to  an  ardent  desire  to  behold  Jerusalem,  he  pro- 
mised to  restore  the  Christian  churches,  to  protect  their 
worship,  and  open  the  gates  of  the  Holy  City  to  all  the 

*  This  circumstance  is  taken  from  an  Armenian  manuscript  of  Matthew 
of  Edessa.  It  is  surprising  that  the  Latin  historians  have  made  no  men- 
tion of  it ;  but  they  never  speak  of  any  means  of  providing  provisions 
employed  by  the  Crusaders. 


HISTOET    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  139 

pilgrims,  upon  condition  that  they  would  repair  thither 
without  arms,  and  Avould  remain  there  no  longer  than  one 
month.'  If  the  Crusaders  submitted  to  these  conditions, 
the  caliph  promised  to  become  their  most  generous  supporter; 
if  they  declined  the  blessing  of  his  friendship,  the  nations 
of  Eg)^t  and  Ethiopia,  with  aU  those  that  inhabit  Asia 
and  Alrica,  from  the  Straits  of  Grades  to  the  gates  of  Bagdad, 
would  arise  at  the  voice  of  the  legitimate  vicar  of  the  pro- 
phet, and  would  show  the  warriors  of  the  West  the  power 
of  their  arms. 

This  discourse  excited  violent  murmurs  in  the  assembly 
of  the  Christians ;  one  of  the  chiefs  arose  to  answer  it,  and 
addressing  hunself  to  the  deputies  of  the  caliph :  "  The 
religion  that  we  follow,"  said  he  to  them,  "  has  inspired  us 
"with  the  design  of  re-establishing  its  empire  in  the  places  in 
which  it  was  born ;  and  we  stand  in  no  need  of  the  concur- 
rence of  the  powers  of  the  earth  to  accomplish  our  vows. 
We  do  not  come  into  Asia  to  receive  laws  or  benefits  from 
Mussulmans,  nor  have  we  forgotten,  besides,  the  outrages 
committed  by  Egyptians  upon  the  pilgrims  of  the  West ;  we 
still  remember  that  Christians,  imder  the  reign  of  the  caliph 
Hakem,  were  delivered  over  to  executioners,  and  that  their 
churches,  particularly  that  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  were  razed 
to  the  ground.  Yes,  without  doubt,  we  have  the  intention 
of  visiting  Jerusalem,  but  we  have  also  taken  an  oath  to 
deliver  it  from  the  yoke  of  the  infidels.  Grod,  who  has 
honoured  it  by  his  sufferings,  wills  that  he  shall  be  there 
served  by  his  people.  The  Christians  resolve  to  be  both  its 
guardians  and  its  masters.  Go  and  tell  him  who  sent  you 
to  make  choice  of  peace  or  war ;  tell  him  that  the  Christians 
encamped  before  Antioch  fear  neither  the  nations  of  Egypt, 
nor  those  of  Asia,  nor  those  of  Bagdad,  and  that  they  only 
ally  themselves  with  powers  which  respect  the  laws  of  justice 
and  the  standards  of  Jesus  Christ." 

The  orator  who  spoke  thus  expressed  the  opinion  and 
sentiments  of  the  assembly:  nevertheless,  they  did  not 
entirely  reject  the  alliance  with  the  Egyptians.  Deputies 
were  chosen  from  the  Christian  army  to  accompany  the 
ambassadors  of  Cairo  on  their  return,  and  to  bear  to  the 
caliph  the  definitive  propositions  of  peace  of  the  Crusaders. 

Scarcely  had  the  deputies  left  the  camp  of  the  Christians, 

Vol.  I.— 8 


140  HISTOET    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

-when  the  latter  obtained  a  fresh  victor}^  over  the  Turks. 
The  sultans  of  Aleppo  and  Damascus,  ^-ith  the  emirs  of 
Csesarea,  Emessa,  and  Hieropolis,  had  raised  an  army  of 
twenty  thousand  horse  to  succour  Antioch ;  and  this  army 
was  already  on  its  march  towards  the  city,  when  it  was  sur- 
prised and'  cut  to  pieces  by  the  prince  of  Tarentum  and  the 
count  de  St.  Gilles,  who  had  gone  out  to  meet  it.  The 
Turks  lost  in  this  battle  two  thousand  men  and  one  thousand 
horses  ;  and  the  city  of  Harem,  in  which  they  in  yain  sought 
an  asylum  after  their  defeat,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Chris- 
tians.* At  the  moment  the  ambassadors  from  Egypt  were 
about  to  embark  at  the  port  of  St.  Simeon,  the  heads  and 
spoils  of  two  hundred  Mussulmans  were  brought  to  them 
upon  four  camels.  The  conquerors  cast  two  hundred  other 
heads  into  the  cit^'  of  Antioch,  whose  garrison  was  still  in 
eypectation  of  succour ;  and  they  stuck  a  great  number  upon 
pikes  round  the  walls.  They  exhibited  thus  these  horrible 
trophies,  to  ayenge  themselyes  of  the  insults  the  Saracens 
had,  on  their  ramparts,  heaped  upon  an  image  of  the  Virgin 
which  had  fallen  into  their  hands. 

But  the  Crusaders  were  soon  to  signalize  themselyes  in  a 
much  more  perilous  and  murderous  battle.  A  fleet  of 
Genoese  and  Pisans  had  entered  the  port  of  St.  Simeon,  and 
the  news  of  their  arriyal  causing  the  greatest  joy  in  the 
army,  a  great  number  of  soldiers  left  the  camp  and  hastened 
towards  the  port,  some  to  learn  news  from  Europe,  and 
others  to  buy  the  proyisions  of  which  they  stood  so  much  in 
need.  As  they  were  returning  loaded  with  proyisions,  and 
for  the  greater  part  luiarmed,  they  were  unexpectedly 
attacked  and  dispersed  by  a  body  of  foiu'  thousand  Turks, 
who  laid  wait  for  them  on  their  passage.  In  yain  the  prince 
of  Tarentum,  the  count  de  St.  Gilles,  and  Bishop  Adhemar, 
flew  to  their  aid  with  their  troops  ;  the  Christians  could  not 
resist  the  shock  of  the  infidels,  and  retreated  in  disorder. 

The  account  of  this  defeat  soon  spread  alarm  among  the 
Crusaders  who  had  remained  before  the  city.  Immediately 
Godfrey,  to  whom  danger  gaye  supreme  authority,  ordered 
the  leaders  and  soldiers  to  fly  to  arms.*     Accompanied  by 

*  A  chronicle  printed  at  Paris  in  1517,  which  bears  for  title,  "  Grand 
Voyage  d'Outre-Mer,"  places  the  following  speech  in  the  mouth  of  God- 


HISTORY    or    THE    CEUSADES.  141 

his  brother  Eustace,  the  two  Eoberts,  and  the  count  de  Yer- 
mandois,  he  crossed  the  Orontes,  and  hastened  to  seek  the 
enemy,  still  engaged  in  following  up  their  first  advantage. 
As  soon  as  he  came  in  presence  of  the  Saracens,  he  com- 
manded the  other  chiefs  to  follow  his  example,  and  rushed, 
sword  in  hand,  into  the  thickest  of  the  enemy's  ranks.  The 
latter,  accustomed  to  fight  at  a  distance,  and  principally  to 
employ  the  bow  and  arrow,  could  not  resist  the  sword  and 
lance  of  the  Crusaders.  They  took  to  flight,  some  towards 
the  mountains,  and  others  towards  the  city.  Accien,  w^ho, 
from  the  towers  of  his  palace,  had  witnessed  the  victorious 
attack  of  the  Crusaders,  immediately  sent  a  numerous  de- 
tachment to  renew  the  fight.  He  accompanied  his  soldiers 
as  far  as  the  gate  of  the  Bridge,  which  he  caused  to  be  shut 
after  them,  telling  them  it  should  only  be  opened  to  them 
when  they  returned  victorious. 

This  new  body  of  Saracens  were  soon  beaten  and  dis- 
persed ;  and  there  remained  no  hope  to  them  but  to  endeavour 
to  regain  the  city.  But  Godfrey,  who  had  foreseen  every- 
thing, had  posted  himself  upon  an  eminence  between  the 
fugitives  and  the  gates  of  Antioch.  It  was  there  that  the 
carnage  was  renewed ;  the  Christians  were  animated  by  their 
victory,  and  the  Saracens  by  their  despair  and  the  cries  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  city,  who  were  assembled  on  the  ram- 
parts. JSTothing  can  paint  the  frightful  tumult  of  this  fresh 
conflict.  The  clashing  of  arms  and  the  cries  of  the  com- 
batants would  not  permit  the  soldiers  to  hear  the  orders  of 
their  leaders.  They  fought  man  to  man,  and  without  order, 
whilst  clouds  of  dust  covered  the  field  of  battle.  Chance 
directed  the  blows  of  both  the  conquerors  and  the  con- 
quered, and  the  Saracens,  heaped  as  it  were  together  by 
their  terror,  impeded  their  own  flight.  The  confusion  was 
so  great  that  several  of  the  Crusaders  were  killed  by  their 

frey  : — "  Brave  seigneurs,  my  brothers  and  companions  in  Jesus  Christ ; 
if  the  news  we  hear  be  true,  that  for  our  sins  these  cruel  dogs  have  thus 
killed  these  valiant  men,  and  of  great  consideration,  I  only  perceive  two 
things,  that  we  shall  die  with  them  as  good  and  loyal  Christians,  assured 
of  receiving  our  guerdon  from  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  for 
whose  service  we  came  here  and  have  quitted  our  native  lands  and  our 
kindred;  or  if  it  should  please  him,  that  he  allow  us  to  take  vengeance 
and  obtain  victory  over  these  vile  dogs  who  have  thus  degraded  and 
weakened  Christianity  in  its  valiant  men." 


142  UISTOEY   OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

companions  and  brothers  in  arms.  A  great  number  of 
Saracens  fell  almost  ^Yitbout  resistance  under  the  swords  of 
the  Christians,  and  more  than  two  thousand,  who  sought 
safety  in  flight,  were  drowned  in  the  Orontes.  "  The  old 
men  of  Antioch,"  says  William  of  Tyre,  "  whilst  contem- 
plating  this  bloody  catastrophe  from  the  height  of  their 
walls,  grieyed  that  the}''  had  liyed  so  long,  whilst  the  women 
who  "^T-tnessed  the  death  of  their  children,  lamented  their 
own  fecundity."  The  carnage  continued  during  the  whole 
day ;  and  it  was  not  till  night-fall  that  Accien  allowed  the 
gates  to  be  opened  for  the  reception  of  the  miserable  remains 
of  his  troops,  still  hotly  pursued  by  the  Crusaders. 

The  leaders  and  soldiers  of  the  army  had  performed  pro- 
digies of  yalour.  Bohemond,  Tancred,  Adhemar,  Bald^yin 
du  Bourg,  and  Eustace  had  appeared  eyerywhere,  leading 
their  warriors  in  the  paths  of  danger.  The  whole  army 
spoke  of  the  lance-thrusts  and  maryellous  feats  of  arms  of 
the  count  de  Yermandois  and  the  two  [Roberts.  The  duke 
of  jS^ormandy  sustained  a  single  combat  witb  a  leader  of 
the  infidels,  who  adyanced  towards  him  surrounded  by  his 
troop.  With  one  blow  of  his  sword  he  split  his  head  to 
the  shoulder,  and,  as  the  Saracen  fell  dead  at  his  feet,  ex- 
claimed, "J  devote  thy  impure  soul  to  the  poicers  of  hell.'' ^ 
Tancred,  says  Eaoul  de  Caen,  distinguished  himself  amongst 
the  most  intrepid  of  the  knights.  In  the  heat  of  the  melee ^ 
the  Christian  hero,  as  modest  as  he  was  braye,  made  his 
squire  swear  to  preserve  silence  upon  the  exploits  of  which 
he  was  a  witness.*  "  Godfrey,  who,  in  this  memorable  day, 
had  displayed  the  skill  of  a  great  captain,  signaHzed  his 
brayery  and  yast  strength  by  actions  which  both  history  and 
poetry  haye  celebrated.     No  armour  seemed  proof  against 

*  Sed  est  quod  stupeam,  nee  satis  valeam  stupere  :  cum  homo  tarn 
pretiosus  laudis  emptor  mox  prsesentis  ya  armigeri  silentio  concluserit 
adjurato. —  Gest.  Tunc.  cap.  52  ;  Muratori,  vol.  id.  Tlie  historian  whom 
we  have  just  quoted  endeavours  to  explain  the  fact  which  he  relates.  He 
asks  himself  whether  it  was  from  modesty  or  a  religious  spirit,  or  whether 
Tancred  might  fear  not  to  be  believed,  either  upon  his  own  word  or  that 
of  his  squire,  that  the  Christian  hero  desired  silence  to  be  preserved.  In 
all  these  cases  the  fact  appears  to  him  to  be  a  prodigy.  He  adds  that  the 
squire  was  faithful  to  his  oath,  and  that  it  was  not  till  a  long  time  after- 
wards that  the  feats  of  Tancred  on  that  day  became  known.  We  have 
but  to  compare  this  with  what  old  Horace  says  of  his  heroes. 


HISTORY    or    TIIJS    CRUSADES.  143 

bis  trenchant  blade ;  lances,  helmets,  and  cuirasses  flew  in 
shivers  beneath  its  strokes.  A  Saracen  of  surpassing  strength 
and  stature  offered  him  single  combat  in  the  midst  of  the 
melee,  and  with  his  first  blow  dashed  the  shield  of  Grodfrey 
in  pieces.  Indignant  at  such  audacity,  the  Christian  hero 
raised  himself  in  his  stirrups,  and  rushing  on  his  antagonist, 
dealt  him  so  terrible  a  blow  on  the  shoulder,  that  he  divided 
his  body  into  two  parts.*  The  one,  say  the  historians,  fell 
to  the  ground,  whilst  the  other  remained  on  the  horse,  which 
returned  to  the  city,  where  this  spectacle  redoubled  the  con- 
sternation of  the  besieged.  In  spite  of  these  astonishing 
exploits,  the  Christians  sustained  a  considerable  loss.  Whilst 
celebrating  the  heroic  valour  of  the  Crusaders,  contemporary 
history  is  astonished  at  the  multitude  of  martyrs  which  the 
Saracens  sent  to  heaven,  and  who,  on  arriving  in  the  abodes 
of  the  elect,  Avith  crowns  upon  their  heads,  and  palm  branches 
in  their  hands,  addressed  God  in  these  words  :  "  Why  have 
you  not  spared  our  blood  which  has  flowed  for  you  this 

*day?"t 

The  infidels  passed  the  night  in  burpng  such  as  had 
been  killed  under  the  walls  of  the  city.  They  interred  them 
near  a  mosque  built  on  the  outer  side  of  the  bridge  of 
the  Orontes.  After  the  funeral  ceremonies,  they  returned  into 
Antioch.  As,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  Mussulmans, 
these  bodies  had  been  buried  with  their  arms,  their  orna- 
ments, and  their  vestments,  this  plunder  held  out  too  strong 
a  temptation  for  the  gross  multitude  that  followed  the  army 
of  the  Crusaders.  They  crossed  the  Orontes,  precipitated 
themselves  in  a  crowd  upon  the  graves  of  the  Saracens, 
exhumed  the  dead  bodies,  and  tore  off  the  arms  and  habili- 
ments with  which  they  were  covered.    They  quickly  retiu*ned 

*  Sic  lubricus  ensis  super  crus  dextrum  integer  exigit,  sicque  caput 
integrum  cum  dextra  parte  corporis  iramersit  gurgite,  partemque  quae 
equo  prsesidebat  remisit  civitati. — Rob.  Mon.  Cujus  ense  trajectus 
Turcus  duo  factus  est  Turci;  ut  inferior  alter  in  urbem  equitaret,  alter 
arcitenens  in  flumine  nataret. — Rad.  Cad. 

■f*  Feruntque  in  ilia  die  martyrisati  ex  nostris  militibus  seu  peditibus 
plusquam  mille,  qui  in  coelum  loetantes  ascendebant,  atque  candidati 
ferentes  stolam  recepti  martyrii,  glorificantes  et  magnificantes  Dominum 
Deum  nostrum  trinum  et  unum,  in  quo  feliciter  triumphabant ;  et  dicebant 
concordabili  voce  :  Quare  non  defendis  sanguinem  nostrum,  qui  hodie  pro 
tuo  nomine  effusus  est  ? — Gesta  Francorum,  lib.  xviii.  cap.  18,  p.  13. 


I4i4i  HISTORY   OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

to  exhibit  in  tlie  camp  tlie  silk  stuffs,  bucklers,  lances,  jave- 
lins, and  rich  swords  found  in  the  coffins ;  nor  did  this 
spectacle  at  all  disgust  the  knights  and  barons.  On  the  day 
follo\ving  the  battle,  among  the  spoils  of  the  vanquislied, 
they  contemplated  with  joy  fifteen  hundi-ed  heads  separated 
from  their  trunks,  which  were  paraded  in  triumph  through 
the  armv,  recalling  to  them  their  own  victory,  and  the  loss 
thev  had  inflicted  on  the  infidels.  All  these  heads  were  cast 
into  the  Orontes,  and,  together  with  the  bodies  of  the  Mus- 
sulmans di'owned  in  the  conflict  of  the  preceding  day,  carried 
the  news  of  the  victory  to  the  Genoese  and  Pisans  disem- 
barked at  the  port  of  8t.  Simeon.  The  Crusaders,  who,  at 
the  commencement  of  the  battle,  had  fled  towards  the  sea 
or  the  mountains,  and  who  had  been  lamented  as  dead, 
retiuTied  to  the  camp,  and  joined  their  brethren  in  the 
thanks  offered  to  heaven  for  the  triumphs  of  the .  Christian 
army.  From  this  time  the  cliiefs  thought  of  nothing  but 
taking  advantage  of  the  teiTor  with  which  they  had  inspired 
the  Saracens.  Masters  of  the  cemeterv  of  the  Mussulmans, 
the  Crusaders  destroyed  the  mosque  which  had  been  built 
outside  the  walls  of  the  city,  and  employed  the  stones  of  the 
tombs  even  in  erecting  a  fortress  before  the  gate  of  the 
brido-e,  bv  which  the  besieored  made  their  sorties.  Exiv- 
mond,  who  had  been  accused  of  want  of  zeal  for  the  holy 
war,  caused  the  fort  to  be  constructed,  and  charged  himself 
with  the  defence  of  this  dangerous  post.  It  was  proposed 
to  raise  another  fortress  near  the  first,  and  as  no  other  of 
the  leaders  presented  himself  to  forward  the  construction  of 
it,  Tancred  oflered  his  services  to  the  Crusaders.  But, 
generous  and  loyal  knight  as  he  was,  he  possessed  nothing 
but  his  sword  and  his  renown.  He  asked  the  necessary 
money  of  his  companions,  and  himself  undertook  the  dangers 
of  the  enterprise.  All  were  eager  to  second  his  courageous 
devotedness ;  the  labours  which  he  directed  were  soon 
finished,  and  from  that  period  the  besieged  foimd  themselves 
completely  enclosed  within  the  circle  of  their  walls. 

The  Crusaders,  after  having  thus  finished  the  blockade  of 
the  place,  sm'prised  the  Syrians  who  had  been  accustomed 
to  bring  provisions  into  Antioch,  and  only  gave  them  libei-ty 
and  life  upon  their  swearing  to  supply  the  Christian  army. 
Having  learnt  that  Accien  had  sent  a  great  part  of  the 


USITORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  145 

horses  of  his  garrison  into  a  valley  at  a  few  leagues  from  the 
city,  they  repaired  thither  by  circuitous  routes,  and  got  pos- 
session of  this  rich  booty.  Two  thousand  horses,  and  as 
many  mules,  were  led  in  triumph  into  the  camp  of  the 
Christians. 

As  the  fleet  of  the  Pisans  and  Grenoese  had  brought  with 
them  a  great  number  of  labourers  and  engineers,  they  were 
employed  in  directing  and  carrying  on  the  works  of  the 
siege.  Machines  of  war  were  constructed,  and  the  city  of 
Antioch  was  pressed  more  vigorously,  and  threatened  on  all 
sides.  AVhilst  despair  supplied  the  place  of  courage  among 
the  Saracens,  the  zeal  and  emulation  of  the  Crusaders  were 
redoubled.  Many  whom  misery  or  fear  had  driven  from  the 
Christian  army  rejoined  their  standards,  and  sought  by  their 
exertions  to  obliterate  the  remembrance  of  their  desertion. 
The  besiegers  allowed  themselves  no  repose,  and  only  seemed 
to  live  to  fight.  The  women  seconded  the  valour  of  the 
warriors.  Some  mingled  with  them  in  the  ranks,  whilst 
others  bore  them  food  and  ammunition  to  the  battle-field. 
Children  even  formed  themselves  into  troops,  exercised 
themselves  in  military  evolutions,  and  took  up  arms  against 
the  Saracens.  The  inhabitants  of  Antioch  opposed  their 
children  to  those  of  the  Christians,  and  several  times  these 
5'oung  combatants  came  to  blows  in  the  presence  of  the 
besiegers  and  the  besieged,  who  animated  them  with  voice 
and  gesture,  and  joined  the  combat  even  to  support  such  of 
their  party  as  seemed  to  yield. 

There  was  formed  at  the  same  time  another  military  force 
still  more  formidable  to  the  Saracens.*  The  mendicants 
and  vagabonds  who  followed  the  Christian  army  were  em- 
ployed in  the  labours  of  the  siege,  and  worked  under  the 
orders  of  a  captain,  who  took  the  title  of  "  Hoi  truant,^''  or 
king  of  the  beggars.  They  received  pay  from  the  general 
treasury  of  the  Crusaders,  and  as  soon  as  they  were  in  a 
condition  to  purchase  arms  and  clothes,  the  king  renounced 
them  as  his  subjects,  and  forced  them  to  enter  into  one  of 
the  troops  of  the  army.  This  measure,  whilst  forcing  the 
vagabonds  to  abandon  a  life  of  dangerous  idleness,  changed 

*  These  particulars  are  related  by  Abbot  Guibert,  lib.  iv.  In  this 
hifctorian  will  be  found  most  particulars  regarding  morals. 


146  HISTORY    or    THE    CIIUSJlDES. 

them  into  useful  auxiliaries.  As  they  were  accused  of 
violating  tombs  and  feeding  on  human  flesh,*  they  inspired 
great  terror  among  the  iniidels,  and  the  sight  of  them  alone 
put  to  flight  the  defenders  of  Antioch,  who  trembled  at  the 
thoughts  of  falling  into  their  hands. 

Antioch  was  so  closely  pressed,  and  the  garrison  had  so 
little  means  of  defence  left,  that  the  Crusaders  expected 
every  day  to  become  masters  of  it.  Accien  demanded  a 
truce  of  them,  and  promised  to  surrender  if  he  were  not  soon 
relieved.  The  Crusaders,  ever  full  of  blind  confidence,  had 
the  imprudence  to  accept  the  proposals  of  the  governor.  As 
soon  as  they  had  concluded  a  truce  with  the  Saracens,  the 
leaders  of  the  army,  wlio  scarcely  ever  agreed,  except  upon 
the  field  of  battle,  and  whom  the  presence  of  danger  did  not 
always  unite,  were  upon  the  point  of  declaring  war  against 
one  another. 

Baldwin,  prince  of  Edessa,  had  sent  magnificent  presents 
to  Godfrey,  the  two  Eoberts,  the  count  de  Yermandois,  and 
the  counts  of  Blois  and  of  Chartres,  but  in  the  distribution 
of  his  favours  had,  designedly,  omitted  Bohemond  and  his 
soldiers.  I^othing  more  was  necessary  to  create  division. 
Whilst  the  rest  of  the  army  were  celebrating  the  liberality 
of  Baldwin,  the  prince  of  Tarentum  and  his  warriors  breathed 
nothing  but  complaints  and  murmurs. 

At  this  time  a  richly-ornamented  tent,  which  an  Armenian 
prince  destined  for  Godfrey,  and  which,  falling  into  the  hands 
of  Pancracius,  was  sent  to  Bohemond,  became  a  fresh  sub- 
ject of  trouble  and  discord.  Godfrey  haughtily  claimed  the 
present  which  had  been  intended  for  him,  and  Bohemond 
refused  to  give  it  up.  On  each  side  they  proceeded  to  inju- 
rious terms  and  threats ;  they  were  even  ready  to  have 
recourse  to  arms,  and  the  blood  of  the  Christians  was  about 
to  flow  for  a  miserable  quarrel ;  but  at  length  the  prince  of 
Tarentum,  abandoned  by  the  greater  part  of  the  army,  and 
overcome  by  the  prayers  of  his  friends,  gave  up  the  tent  to 
his  rival,  consoling  himself  in  his  vexation,  with  the  hope 
that  war  would  soon  put  him  in  possession  of  a  richer  booty. 

William  of  Tyre,  who  has  transmitted  to  us  this  account, 

*  Rt  si  Sarracenum  noviter  interfectum  invenerunt,  illius  carnes,  ac  si 
essent  pecudis,  avidissime  devorabant. —  Gesta  Francorum. 


HISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  147 

is  astonished  to  see  the  wise  Godfrey  claim  such  a  frivolous 
object  with  so  much  heat ;  and  in  his  surprise  he  compares 
the  weakness  of  the  hero  to  the  slumbers  of  the  good  Homer. 
His  thought  would  have  been  more  just  if  he  had  compared 
the  discords  and  quarrels  of  the  leaders  of  the  crusade  to 
those  which  troubled  the  camp  of  the  Greeks,  and  so  long 
retarded  the  taking  of  Troj.  Wliilst  these  quarrels  engaged 
the  attention  of  the  whole  Christian  armv,  the  inhabitants 
of  Antioch  were  introducing  reinforcements  into  the  city, 
and  preparing  for  a  fresh  resistance.  When  they  had 
received  the  succours  and  provisions  necessary  to  defend 
themselves  and  prolong  the  siege,  they  broke  the  truce,  and 
again  began  the  war,  with  all  the  advantages  that  a  peace 
too  easily  granted  them  had  procured. 

Antioch,  after  a  siege  of  seven  months,  would  have 
escaped  from  the  hands  of  the  Christians,  if  stratagem, 
policy,  and  ambition  had  not  effected  for  tkem  that  which 
patience  and  bravery  had  been  iniable  to  achieve.  Bohemond, 
whose  sole  motive  for  undertaking  the  crusade  had  been  a 
desire  to  improve  his  fortunes,  was  constantly  on  the  watch 
for  an  opportunity  of  realizing  his  projects.  Baldwin's 
great  success  had  awakened  his  jealousy,  and  haunted  him 
even  in  his  sleep.  He  dared  to  direct  his  views  to  the  pos- 
session of  xlntioch,  and  was  so  far  favoured  by  circumstances, 
as  to  meet  with  a  man  who  might  be  able  to  place  this  city 
in  his  power.  This  man,  whose  name  was  Phirous,  was, 
whatever  some  historians  who  give  him  a  noble  origin  may 
say,  the  son  of  an  Armenian,  who  was  by  trade  a  maker  of 
cuirasses.*  Of  a  restless  and  busy  character,  he  was  con- 
stantly anxious  to  change  and  improve  his  condition.  He 
had  abjured  the  Christian  religion  from  a  spirit  of  incon- 

*  Matthew  of  Edessa  does  not  name  the  Mussulman  who  gave  up 
Antioch  to  the  Christians.  Abulfaradge  calls  him  Ruzebach,  and  says 
that  he  was  a  Persian  by  origin.  Anna  Comnena  pretends  that  he  was  an 
Armenian.  Most  historians  call  him  Pyrrus,  or  Phirous.  William  of 
Tyre  gives  him  the  name  of  Emir  Feir,  and  Sanuti  calls  him  Hermuferus. 
It  mav  most  probably  be  said  that  he  had  abjured  Christianity.  If  authors 
are  not  agreed  as  to  his  name,  it  may  be  believed  that  some  have  called 
him  by  his  proper  name,  and  that  others  have  designated  him  by  a  name 
which  expressed  his  profession.  WiUiam  of  Tyre  says  that  he  was  bora 
of  a  family  called  in  Armenian  Beni  Zerra,  that  is,  the  family  of  the  makert 
of  cuirasses, 

8* 


148  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

stancY,  and  in  tlie  hope  of  advancing  his  fortune ;  he  was 
endowed  with  admirable  self-possession,  and  with  audacity 
proof  against  any  accident :  and  was  at  all  times  ready  to 
perform  that  for  money  which  could  only  have  been  expected 
from  the  most  ardent  fanaticism.  Xothing  appeared  unjust 
or  impossible  to  him  that  promised  to  gratify  his  ambition 
or  his  avarice.  Being  active,  adroit,  and  insinuating,  he  had 
wormed  himself  into  the  confideuce  of  Accien,  and  was 
admitted  into  his  council.  The  prince  of  Antioch  had  in- 
trusted him  with  the  command  of  three  of  the  principal 
towers  of  the  place.  He  defended  them  at  first  with  zeal, 
but  without  any  advantage  to  his  fortune,  and  he  grew  weary 
of  a  barren  fideht^'  the  moment  his  busy  brain  suggested 
that  treason  might  be  more  profitable.  In  the  intervals  of 
the  various  conflicts  he  had  had  many  opportunities  of  seeing 
the  prince  of  Tarentum.  These  two  men  divined  each  other's 
character  at  the  fii'st  glance,  and  it  was  not  long  before  this 
spnpathy  proouced  mutual  confidence.  In  their  first  meet- 
ings Phirous  complained  of  the  outrages  he  had  experienced 
from  the  Mussulmans  ;  he  deeply  regretted  having  abandoned 
the  religion  of  Christ,  and  wept  over  the  persecutions  the 
Christians  had  suflered  in  Antioch.  Xo  more  than  this  was 
required  to  place  the  prince  of  Tarentum  in  possession  of 
the  secret  thoughts  of  Phirous.  He  commended  both  his 
remorse  and  his  good  feeling,  and  made  him  the  most  mag- 
nificent promises.  Then  the  renegado  opened  his  heart  to 
him.  They  swore  an  inriolable  friendship  to  each  other, 
and  planned  an  active  correspondence.  They  met  several 
times  afterwards,  but  always  with  the  greatest  secrecy.  At 
everv  interview  Bohemond  told  Phirous  that  the  fate  of  the 
Christians  was  in  his  hands,  and  that  it  only  rested  with 
himself  to  merit  their  gratitude,  and  receive  from  them  vast 
recompenses.  On  his  side,  Phirous  protested  that  he  was 
anxious  to  serve  the  Christians,  whom  he  considered  as  his 
brothers,  and,  in  order  to  assure  the  prince  of  Tarentum  of 
his  fidelity,  or  else  to  excuse  his  treason,  he  said  that  Jesus 
Christ  had  appeared  to  hitn,  and  had  advised  him  to  give  up 
Antioch  to  the  Cliristians.*     Bohemond  required  no  such 

*  Apparuit  enim  ei  Dominus  Jesus  Christus  per  visxim,  et  ait ;  Vade  et 
redde  civitatem  Christianis. — Gesta  Franconim,  lib.  v.  cap.  12. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  149 

protestation.  He  had  no  difficulty  in  believing  what  he  so 
ardently  desired,  and  as  soon  as  he  had  agreed  with  Phirous 
upon  the  means  of  executing  the  projects  they  had  so  long 
meditated,  he  called  an  assembly  of  the  principal  leaders  of 
the  Christian  army.  He  began  by  laying  before  them  with 
much  earnestness  both  the  evils  with  which  the  Crusaders 
had  hitherto  been  afflicted,  and  the  still  greater  evils  with 
which  they  were  threatened.  He  added,  that  a  powerful 
army  was  advancing  to  the  assistance  of  Antioch ;  that  a 
retreat  could  not  be  effected  v^ithout  disgrace  and  danger ; 
and  that  there  remained  no  safety  for  the  Christians  but  in 
the  capture  of  the  city.  It  was  true,  the  place  was  defended 
by  impregnable  ramparts ;  but  they  should  recollect  that  aU 
victories  were  not  obtained  by  force  of  arms  or  in  the  field 
of  battle  ;  and  that  such  as  were  won  by  address  were 
neither  the  least  important  nor  the  least  glorious.  They, 
then,  who  could  not  be  conquered  must  be  deceived,  and  the 
enemy  must  be  overcome  by  a  great  but  skilful  enterprise. 
Among  the  inhabitants  of  Antioch,  so  diverse  in  their  man- 
ners and  religions,  so  opposed  in  their  interests,  there  must 
be  some  to  be  found  who  would  be  accessible  to  the  bait  of 
gold,  or  the  allurements  of  brilliant  promises.  The  question 
of  a  ser\ice  so  important  to  the  Christian  army,  was  of  such 
magnitude  that  it  was  right  to  promote  every  kind  of  under- 
taking. The  possession  of  Antioch  itself  did  not  appear  to 
him  to  be  too  high  a  reward  for  the  zeal  of  him  who  should 
be  sufficiently  adroit,  or  sufficiently  fortunate,  as  to  throw 
open  the  gates  of  the  city  to  the  Crusaders. 

Bohemond  was  careful  not  to  explain  himself  more  clearly, 
but  his  purpose  was  easily  divined  by  the  jealous  ambition 
of  some  of  the  leaders,  who  perhaps  entertained  the  same 
views  as  himself.  E-aymond,  particidarly,  warmly  refuted 
the  artful  insinuations  of  the  prince  of  Tarentum.  "  We 
are  all,"  said  he,  "  brothers  and  companions,  and  it  would  be 
unjust,  after  all  have  run  the  same  risks,  that  one  alone 
should  gather  the  fruits  of  our  joint  labours.  For  myself," 
added  he,  casting  a  look  of  anger  and  contempt  upon  Bohe- 
mond, •'  I  have  not  traversed  so  many  countries,  braved  so 
many  perils,  lavished  so  much  blood  and  treasure,  or  sacri- 
ficed so  many  of  my  soldiers,  to  repay  with  the  price  of  our 
COlKJuests  some  gross  artifice  or  shameful  stratagem  worthy 


J.50  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

only  of  women."  These  vebement  words  had  all  the  success  to 
be  expected  among  warriors  accustomed  to  prevail  by  force 
of  arms,  and  who  esteemed  no  conquest  that  was  not  the 
reward  of  yalom\  The  greater  number  of  the  leaders 
rejected  the  proposition  of  the  prince  of  Tarentum,  and 
added  their  railleries  to  those  of  Eaymond.  Bohemond, 
whom  history  has  surnamed  the  Ulysses  of  the  Latins,  did- 
all  in  his  power  to  restrain  himself  and  conceal  his  vexation. 
He  went  out  from  the  council  smiling,  persuaded  that 
necessity  would  soon  bring  the  Crusaders  to  his  opinion. 

As  soon  as  he  had  regained  his  tent,  he  sent  emissaries 
through  all  the  quarters  of  the  camp  to  spread  secretly  the 
most  alarming  intelligence.  As  he  foresaw,  consternation 
seized  the  Christians.  Some  of  the  leaders  were  sent  to 
ascertain  the  truth  of  the  reports  prevalent  in  the  camp ; 
and  soon  returned  with  an  accoimt  that  Kerbogha,  sultan  of 
Mossoul,  was  advancing  towards  Antioch  with  an  army  of 
two  hundred  thousand  men,  collected  on  the  banks  of 
the  Euphrates  and  the  Tigris.  This  army,  which  had 
threatened  the  city  of  Edessa  and  ravaged  Mesopotamia, 
was  at  a  distance  of  only  seven  days'  march.  At  this 
recital  the  fears  of  the  Crusaders  were  redoubled.  Bohe- 
mond passed  through  the  ranks,  exaggerating  the  danger, 
and  affecting  to  show  more  depression  and  terror  than  all 
the  rest ;  but  in  his  heart  he  was  dehghted,  and  smiled  at 
the  idea  of  soon  seeing  all  his  hopes  accomplished.  The 
leaders  again  assembled  to  deliberate  upon  the  means  neces- 
sary to  be  taken  in  such  perilous  circumstances.  Two 
opijiions  di^-ided  the  council.  Some  T^ished  that  the  siege 
should  be  raised,  and  that  they  should  march  to  meet  the 
Saracens ;  whilst  others  were  of  opinion  that  the  army 
should  be  formed  into  two  bodies,  one  of  which  should  act 
against  Kerbogha,  whilst  the  other  should  remain  to  guard 
the  camp.  This  last  opinion  appeared  likely  to  prevail, 
when  Bohemond  demanded  permission  to  speak.  He  had 
not  much  difficulty  in  making  them  sensible  of  the  imprac- 
ticability of  both  the  plans  proposed.  If  they  raised  the 
siege,  they  would  be  placed  between  the  garrison  of  Antioch 
and  a  formidable  army.  If  they  continued  the  blockade  of 
the  city,  and  half  of  the  army  only  went  to  meet  Kerbogha, 
they  were  almost  certain  of  a  defeat.    "  The  greatest  penis," 


IIISTORT   OF   TilE    CRUSADES.  151 

added  the  prince  of  Tarentmii,  "  surround  us.  Time  presses  ; 
to-morrow,  perhaps,  it  will  be  too  late  to  act ;  by  to-morrow 
we  may  have  lost  the  fruits  of  all  our  labours  and  all  our 
victories ;  but  no,  I  cannot  think  so ;  God,  who  has  led  us 
hitherto  by  the  hand,  will  not  allow  that  we  shall  have 
fought  for  his  cause  in  vain.  He  ivlll  save  the  Christian 
army,  he  ivill  conduct  us  to  the  tomb  of  his  Son.  If  you 
will  accept  the  proposal  I  have  made  to  you,  to-morrow  the 
standard  of  the  cross  shall  float  over  the  walls  of  Antioch, 
and  we  will  march  in  triumph  to  Jerusalem." 

When  he  had  finished  these  words,  Bohemond  showed 
the  letters  of  Phirous,  who  promised  to  give  up  the  three 
towers  which  he  commanded.  Phirous  said  that  he 
was  ready  to  perform  this  promise,  but  he  declared  he 
would  have  nothing  to  do  with  any  one  but  the  prince  of 
Tarentum.  He  required,  as  the  price  of  his  services,  that 
Bohemond  should  remain  master  of  Antioch.  The  Itahan 
prince  added  that  he  had  already  given  considerable  sums  to 
Phirous ;  that  he  alone  had  obtained  his  confidence,  and 
that  a  reciprocal  confidence  was  the  surest  guarantee  of  the 
success  of  so  difiicult  an  enterprise.  "As  for  the  rest," 
continued  he,  "  if  a  better  means  of  saving  the  army  can  be 
found,  I  am  ready  to  approve  of  it,  and  wiUingly  renoimce 
my  share  in  a  conquest  upon  which  the  safety  of  all  the 
Crusaders  depends." 

The  danger  became  every  day  more  pressing;  it  was 
shameful  to  fly,  imprudent  to  fight,  and  dangerous  to  tem- 
porize, Fear  silenced  all  interests  and  all  rivalry.  The 
more  opposition  the  leaders  had  shown  at  first  to  the  pro- 
ject of  Bohemond,  the  more  eagerly  did  they  now  produce 
cogent  reasons  for  adopting  it.  A  divided  conquest  became  no 
longer  a  conquest.  To  divide  or  share  Antioch  might  give 
birth  to  a  crowd  of  divisions  in  the  armv,  and  lead  to  its 
ruin.  They  only  gave  that  which  was  really  not  yet  their 
own ;  and  they  gave  it  to  secure  the  lives  of  the  Christians. 
It  were  better  that  one  man  should  profit  by  the  labours  of 
all,  than  that  all  should  perish  for  opposing  the  good  fortunes 
of  that  one.  Moreover,  the  taking  of  Antioch  was  not  the 
object  of  the  crusade — they  had  taken  up  arms  to  dehver 
Jerusalem.  Every  delay  was  opposed  to  that  which  religion 
looked  for  from  its  soldiers,  to  that  which  the  AVest  expected 


152  HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

from  its  bra\'est  knights.  All  the  leaders,  with  the  exception 
of  the  inflexible  Eaymond,  united  in  according  the  princi- 
pality of  Antioch  to  Bohemond,  and  conjured  him  to  hasten 
the  execution  of  his  project. 

Upon  leaving  the  council,  the  prince  of  Tarentum  sent 
information  of  the  resolution  of  the  leaders  to  Phirous,  who 
placed  his  own  son  in  the  prince's  hands  as  a  hostage.  The 
execution  of  the  plan  was  fixed  for  the  next  •  day.  To  lull 
the  garrison  of  Antioch  in  the  greatest  security,  it  was 
agreed  that  the  Christian  army  should  quit  the  camp,  and 
direct  its  march  at  first  towards  the  route  by  which  the 
prince  of  Mossoul  was  expected  to  arrive,  and  that  at  night- 
fall it  should  meet  under  the  walls  of  Ascalon.  On  the 
following  day,  early  in  the  morning,  the  troops  received 
orders  to  prepare  for  their  departure.  At  some  hours  before 
night  the  Crusaders  issued  from  their  camp,  and  marched 
away,  trumpets  sounding  and  standards  flying.  After  a 
march  of  a  short  distance,  they  retraced  their  steps,  and 
returned  in  silence  under  the  walls  of  Antioch.  At  a  signal 
given  by  the  prince  of  Tarentum,  they  halted  in  a  valley  on 
the  west,  and  near  to  the  tower  of  the  Three  Sisters,  in 
which  Phirous  commanded-  It  was  there  that  the  leaders 
revealed  to  the  army  the  secret  of  the  great  expedition  which 
was  to  open  to  them  the  gates  of  the  city. 

The  projects  of  Phirous  and  Bohemond,  however,  were 
very  near  fadriig.  At  the  moment  that  the  Christian  army 
quitted  their  camp,  and  aU  was  prepared  for  carrying  out 
the  plot,  a  report  of  treason  all  at  once  was  spread  through- 
out Antioch.  The  Christians  and  newly-converted  Mussul- 
mans were  suspected ;  the  name  of  Phirous  even  was  whis- 
pered, and  he  was  accused  of  keeping  up  an  intelligence 
\vith  the  Crusaders.  He  was  obliged  to  appear  before 
Accien,  who  interrogated  him  closely,  and  fixed  his  eyes 
intently  upon  him  in  order  to  penetrate  his  thoughts ;  but 
Phirous  dispersed  all  his  suspicions  by  his  firm  countenance. 
He  himself  proposed  the  proper  measures  to  be  taken 
against  the  traitors,  and  adrised  his  master  to  change  the 
commanders  of  the  principal  towers.  This  advice  was 
approved  of,  and  Accien  determined  to  foUow  it  on  the 
morrow.  In  the  mean  time  orders  were  given  to  load  "with 
chains  and  put  to  death,  during  the  darkness  of  the  night, 


HISTORY    OF   THE    CRUSADES.  153 

all  the  Christians  that  should  be  found  in  the  city.  The 
renegade  was  then  sent  back  to  his  post,  loaded  with 
praises  for  his  carefulness  and  fidelity.  At  the  approach 
of  night  everything  appeared  tranquil  in  Antioch,  and 
Phirous,  escaped  from  such  threatening  danger,  awaited  the 
Crusaders  in  the  tower  which  he  had  agreed  to  surrender  to 
them. 

As  his  brother  commanded  a  tower  near  his  own,  Phirous 
went  to  find  him,  and  sought  to  engage  him  in  the  plot. 
"Brother,"  said  he  to  him,  "you  know  that  the  Crusaders 
have  quitted  their  camp,  and  that  they  are  gone  to  meet  the 
army  of  Kerbogha.  When  I  think  of  the  miseries  they 
have  endured,  and  on  the  death  which  threatens  them,  I 
cannot  help  feeling  a  sort  of  pity  for  them.  Tou  are  not 
ignorant,  likewise,  that  this  night  all  the  Christian  inhabi- 
tants of  Antioch,  after  having  undergone  so  many  outrages, 
are  going  to  be  massacred  by  the  orders  of  Accien.  I  can- 
not help  pitying  them ;  I  cannot  forget  that  we  were  born 
in  the  same  religion,  and  that  we  were  formerly  brothers." 
These  words  did  not  produce  the  effect  he  expected.  "  I  am 
surprised,"  replied  his  brother,  "  that  you  should  pity  men 
who  ought  to  be  objects  of  horror  to  us.  Before  the  Chris- 
tians appeared  under  the  walls  of  Antioch,  we  were  loaded 
with  benefits.  Since  they  have  besieged  the  city,  we  have 
passed  our  lives  in  dangers  and  alarms.  May  all  the  evils 
they  have  brought  upon  us  recoil  upon  them !  As  to  the 
Christians  who  live  amongst  us,  do  you  not  know  that  the 
greater  part  of  them  are  traitors,  and  that  they  think  of 
nothing  but  delivering  us  up  to  the  sword  of  our  enemies  ?" 
On  finishing  these  words,  he  cast  a  threatening  look  upon 
Phirous.  The  renegade  saw  that  he  was  suspected.  He 
could  not  acknowledge  a  brother  in  the  man  who  refused  to 
be  his  accomplice,  and  as  his  only  answer,  plunged  his 
dagger  into  his  heart. 

At  length  the  decisive  moment  arrived.  The  night  was 
dark,  and  a  rising  storm  increased  the  depth  of  the  obscurity. 
The  ^-ind,  which  rattled  among  the  roofs  of  the  buildings, 
and  the  peals  of  thunder,  prevented  the  sentinels  from  hear- 
ing any  noise  around  the  ramparts.  The  heavens  seemed 
inflamed  towards  the  west,  and  the  sight  of  a  comet  which 
then  appeared  in  the  horizon,  seemed  to  announce  to  the 


154  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CSUSADEa. 

euperstitious  minds  of  the  Crusaders  the  destined  moment 
for  the  ruin  and  destruction  of  the  infidels.* 

They  awaited  the  signal  ^^ith  impatience.  The  garrison 
of  Antioch  was  plunged  in  sleep  ;  Phirous  alone  watched, 
and  meditated  his  conspiracy.  A  Lombard  named  Payen, 
sent  by  Bohemond,  mounted  the  tower  by  a  ladder  of  leather. 
Phirous  received  him,  telling  him  all  was  ready ;  and  as  an 
evidence  of  his  fi.dehty,  pointed  to  the  dead  body  of  his 
brother,  whom  he  had  just  slain.  T^Tiilst  they  were  con- 
versing, an  officer  of  the  garrison  came  to  visit  the  posts. 
He  presented  himself,  with  a  lantern  in  his  hand,  before 
the  tower  Phirous  commanded.  The  latter,  without  ap- 
pearing the  least  disturbed,  made  the  emissary  of  Bohemond 
conceal  himself,  and  went  forward  to  meet  the  officer. 
After  recei^ing  praise  for  his  ^'igilance,  he  hastened  to  send 
Payen  back  with  instructions  for  the  prince  of  Tarentum. 
The  Lombard,  on  his  return  to  the  army,  related  what  he 
had  seen,  and,  on  the  part  of  Phirous,  conjured  Bohemond 
not  to  lose  another  moment. 

But  all  at  once  fear  took  possession  of  the  soldiers  ;  at  the 
moment  of  execution  all  saw  the  whole  extent  of  the  dan- 
ger, and  not  one  of  them  put  himself  forvvard  to  mount  the 
rampart.  In  vain  Grodfrey  and  the  prince  of  Tarentum  em- 
ployed by  turns  promises  and  threats ;  both  leaders  and 
soldiers  remained  motionless. t  Bohemond  himself  ascended 
by  a  ladder  of  ropes,  in  the  hope  that  he  should  be  seconded 
bv  the  most  brave ;  but  nobody  felt  it  his  duty  to  follow  in 
his  footsteps.  He  reached  the  tower  alone,  where  Phirous 
reproached  him  warmly  for  his   delay.     Bohemond  hastily 

*  A  comet  appeared  on  the  very  night  of  the  taking  of  Antioch,  June  3, 
1098. — See  Robert.  Monach.  lib.  v.  ad  finem  ;  Chronicon  Fossa  Notes,  in 
Muratori,  torn.  vii.  ;  Chronica  Mailross.  ab  anno  733  ad  1270,  per 
diversos  auctores  in  Rerum  Anglicarum  Script,  torn.  i.  ;  Annales  Waver- 
lienses,  ibid.  torn.  ii.  ;  Pingie,  Cometoyraphie,  tom.  i.  p.  382. 

f  The  anonymous  author  of  a  chronicle  entitled  Passages  d'Ouire- 
Mer,  expresses  hiraself  thus,  p.  46  : — "  But  there  was  not  one  among 
them  who  did  not  refuse  to  mount  except  Bohemond,  whom  jEmiscrius 
received  with  great  joy,  and  showed  him  his  brother  lying  in  his  bed,  whom 

he  had  just  killed  because  he  would  not  join  the  enterprise cunctis 

vero,  qui  cum  Bohemondo  erant.  diffidentibus  ad  ascensum,  solus  Bohe- 
mondus  foederis  fide  fultus,  per  funem  ascendit. — Bemardtis  TAesaurius, 
cap.  36  ;  Muratori,  tom.  iii. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    CRUSADES.  155 

descended  to  his  soldiers,  and  repeated  to  them  that  all  was 
ready  to  receive  them.  His  discourse,  and  still  more,  his 
example,  at  length  reanimated  their  courage,  and  sixty  of 
them  commenced  the  escalade.  They  ascended  by  the  ladder 
of  leather,  led  on  by  one  Foulcher  de  Chartres,  whom  the 
historian  of  Tancred  compares  to  an  eagle  conducting  her 
ycuDg  ones,  and  flying  at  their  head.*  Amoug  these  sixty 
brave  men  was  the  count  of  Flanders,  together  with  several 
of  the  principal  chiefs.  A^ery  soon  sixty  more  Crusaders 
quickly  pressed  upon  the  heels  of  the  first,t  and  these  again 
were  followed  by  such  numbers  and  v»ith  such  precipitation, 
that  the  parapet  to  which  the  ladder  was  fixed  tottered,  and 
at  length  fell  with  a  loud  crash  into  the  ditch.  Such  as 
were  nearly  attaining  the  summit  of  the  tower  fell  upon  the 
lances  and  swords  of  their  companions  who  were  following 
them.  Disorder  and  confusion  prevailed  among  the  assail- 
ants, nevertheless  the  leaders  of  the  plot  viewed  everj^thing 
with  a  tranquil  eye.  Phirous  embraced  his  new  companions 
over  the  bloody  corpse  of  his  brother ;  he  even  yielded  to 
their  swords  another  brother  who  happened  to  be  with  him, 
and  then  surrendered  to  the  Crusaders  the  three  towers 
intrusted  to  his  command.  Seven  other  towers  soon  fell 
into  their  hands,  and  Phirous  loudly  summoned  the  whole 
Christian  army  to  his  aid.  He  fixed  a  new  ladder  to  the 
rampart,  by  which  the  most  impatient  ascended,  and  he 
pointed  out  to  others  a  gate  which  they  might  easily  burst 
open,  and  by  it  crowds  rushed  into  the  city. 

Godfrey,  Raymond,  and  tlie  duke    of  Normandy  were 
soon  in  the  streets  of  Antioch  at  the  head  of  their  batta- 


*  Sicut  aquila  provocans  pullos  suos  advolandura,  et  super  eos  volitans. 
— Rad.  Cair.  torn.  iii.  p.  66. 

t  All  these  details  of  the  siege  and  the  taking  of  Antioch,  which  appear 
to  belong  to  the  epopea,  are  taken  literally  from  the  ancient  historians  of 
the  crusades.  See  Albert  d'Aix,  lib.  iii.  and  iv.  ;  William  of  Tyre,  lib.  v.; 
Robert  the  Monk,  lib.  v.  and  vi.  ;  and  the  authors  of  the  Collection  of 
Bonyars.  All  these  historians  agree  in  the  principal  circumstances.  The 
monk  Robert,  in  the  recital  that  he  makes  of  it,  expresses  his  surprise  in 
these  words  :  "  Non  est  lingua  carnis  quee  satis  valeat  enarrare,  quid 
Francoriim  manus  valuit  persundare."  Foulcher  de  Chartres,  who, 
according  to  common  opinion,  was  the  first  to  mount  the  adder  of  ropes, 
never  speaks  of  himself  in  his  narration,  which  fact  is  uite  consistent 
with  the  spirit  of  the  Christian  knights. 


156  IIISTOEY   OF   THE    CEUSADES. 

lions.  All  the  trumpets  were  sounded,  and  from  tlie  four 
hills  the  city  resounded  with  tlie  terrible  cry  of  "  It  is  the 
iciJl  of  God  !  It  is  the  icill  of  God  !  "  At  the  first  report 
of  the  tumult,  the  Christians  dwelling  in  Antioch  all  believed 
that  their  last  hour  was  come,  and  that  the  Mussulmans 
were  about  to  sacrifice  them.  The  latter,  half  asleep,  poured 
out  of  their  houses  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  noise  they 
heard,  and  died  without  knowing  who  were  the  traitors,  or 
by  whose  hands  they  were  slain.  Some,  when  aware  of  the 
danger,  fled  towards  the  mountain  upon  which  the  citadel 
Avas  built,  whilst  others  rushed  out  at  the  gates  of  the  city. 
All  who  could  not  flv  fell  beneath  the  swords  of  the  con- 
querors. 

In  the  midst  of  this  bloodv  victorv,  Bohemond  did 
not  neglect  taking  formal  possession  of  Antioch,  and  at 
dawn  his  red  standard  was  seen  floating  over  one  of  the 
highest  towers  of  the  city.  At  the  sight  of  this  the  Cru- 
saders who  were  left  in  charge  of  the  camp  broke  into  loud 
acclamations  of  joy,  and  hastened  to  take  a  part  in  this  fresh 
conquest  of  the  Christians.  The  slaughter  of  the  Mussul- 
mans was  continued  vdih  unabated  fury.  The  greater  part 
of  the  Christians  of  Antioch,  who,  during  the  siege,  had 
suflered  much  from  the  tyranny  of  the  infidels,  joined  their 
liberators,  several  exhibiting  the  fetters  by  which  they  had 
been  loaded  by  the  Turks,  and  thus  further  provoking  the 
Adndictive  spirit  of  the  A'ictorious  army.  The  public  places 
were  covered  with  dead  bodies,  and  blood  flowed  in  torrents 
in  the  streets.  The  soldiers  penetrated  into  the  houses ; 
religious  emblems  pointed  out  such  as  were  Christians, 
sacred  hj'mns  indicated  their  brethren ;  but  everything  that 
was  not  marked  with  a  cross  became  the  object  of  vengeance, 
and  all  who  pronounced  not  the  name  of  Christ  were 
massacred  A^dthout  mercy. 

In  a  single  night  more  than  six  thousand  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Antioch  perished.  Many  of  those  who  had  fled 
into  the  neighbouring  fields  were  pursued  and  brought  back 
into  the  city,  where  they  found  either  slavery  or  death.  In 
the  first  moments  of  the  confusion,  Accien,  seeing  that  he 
was  betrayed,  and  no  longer  daring  to  trust  any  of  his 
officers,  resolved  to  fly  towards  Mesopotamia,  and  go  to  meet 
the  army  of  Kerbogha.    .Escaping  through  one  of  the  gates, 


HISTOIIY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  157 

he  proceeded  without  an  escort  over  mountains  and  through 
forests,  till  he  fell  in  with  some  Armenian  woodcutters. 
These  men  at  once  recognised  the  prince  of  Antioch,  and  as 
he  bore  upon  his  countenance  marks  of  depression  and  grief, 
they  judged  that  the  city  must  be  taken.  One  of  them, 
drawing  near  to  him,  snatched  his  sword  from  him,  and 
plunged  it  into  his  body.  His  head  was  carried  to  the  new 
masters  of  Antioch,  and  Phirous  had  an  opportunity  of  con- 
templating without  fear  the  features  of  him  who,  the  day 
before,  might  have  sentenced  him  to  death.  After  having 
received  great  riches  as  the  reward  of  his  treachery,  this 
renegade  embraced  the  Christianity  he  had  abandoned,  and 
followed  the  Crusaders  to  Jerusalem.  Two  years  after- 
wards,  his  ambition  not  being  satisfied,  he  returned  to  the 
religion  of  Mahomet,  and  died  abhorred  by  both  Mussulmans 
and  Christians,  whose  cause  lie  had  by  turns  embraced  and 
betrayed. 

Wiaen  the  Christians  were  tired  of  slaughter,  they  pre- 
pared to  attack  the  citadel ;  but  as  it  was  built  upon  a 
mountain,  inaccessible  on  most  sides,  all  tneir  efforts  were 
useless.  They  contented  themselves  with  surrounding  it 
with  soldiers  and  machines  of  war,  in  order  to  confine  the 
garrison,  and  then  spread  themselves  throughout  the  city, 
giving  way  to  all  the  intoxication  which  their  victory  inspired. 
The  pillage  of  Antioch  had  yielded  them  immense  riches ; 
and  although  they  had  found  but  a  small  stock  of  provisions, 
they  abandoned  themselves  to  the  most  extravagant  excesses 
of  intemperance  and  debauchery. 

These  events  passed  in  the  early  days  of  June,  1098  ;  the 
siege  of  Antioch  had  been  begun  in  the  month  of  October 
of  the  preceding  year.  After  this  victory,  three  days  passed 
quickly  av/ay  in  the  midst  of  rejoicings,  but  the  fourth  was 
a  day  of  fear  and  mourning. 

A  formidable  army  of  Saracens  was  drawing  near  to  An- 
tioch. From  the  earliest  period  of  the  siege,  Accien,  and  the 
sultan  of  Nice,  whom  the  Christians  had  despoiled  of  his  do- 
minions, had  applied  to  all  the  Mussulman  powers  to  procure 
assistance  against  the  warriors  of  the  AVest.  The  supreme 
head  of  the  Seljoucides,  the  sultan  of  Persia,  had  promised 
to  aid  them  ;  and  at  his  voice  all  Corassan,  says  Matthew  of 
Edessa,  Media,  Babylon,  a  part  of  Asia  Minor,  and  all  the 


158  msTOEY  or  the  ceusades. 

East,  from  Damascus  and  the  sea-coast  to  Jerusalem  and 
Arabia,  had  arisen  at  once  to  attack  the  Christians.*  Ker- 
hoo-ha,  sultan  of  Mossoul,  commanded  this  army  of  the 
^lussulmans.  This  warrior  had  fought  for  a  length  of  time, 
at  one  period  for  the  sultan  of  Persia  (Barkiarok),  at  others 
for  the  various  princes  of  the  family  of  Malek-Scha,  who 
contended  for  the  empire.  Often  defeated,  and  twice  a 
prisoner,  he  had  grown  old  amidst  the  tumults  of  ci\'il  war. 
As  full  of  contempt  for  the  Christians  as  of  confidence  in 
himself,  a  true  model  of  the  fierce  Circassian  celebrated  by 
Tasso,  he  considered  himself  the  liberator  of  Asia,  and  tra- 
versed Mesopotamia  with  all  the  pomp  and  splendour  of  a 
conqueror.  The  sultans  of  Xice,  Aleppo,  and  Damascus, 
with  the  sovernor  of  Jerusalem  and  twentv-eis^ht  emirs  from 
Persia,  Palestine,  and  Syria,  marched  under  his  command. 
The  Mussulman  soldiers  were  animated  by  a  thirst  for  ven- 
geance, and  swore  by  their  prophet  to  exterminate  all  the 
Christians.  On  the  third  day  after  the  taking  of  Antioch, 
the  army  of  Kerbogha  pitched  its  tents  on  the  banks  of  the 
Orontes. 

The  Christians  were  made  aware  of  its  arrival  by  a 
detachment  ot  three  hundred  horsemen,  who  came  to 
reconnoitre  the  place,  and  advanced  even  under  the  walls. 
Inquietude  and  alarm  succeeded  immediately  to  festivity 
and  rejoicing.  They  found  that  they  had  not  stores  to  sus- 
tain a  sie2:e :  and  several  of  their  leaders  were  sent  with 
their  troops  towards  the  port  of  St.  Simeon,  and  into  the 
neighbouring  country,  to  collect  all  the  provisions  they  could 
find ;  but  the  territory  of  Antioch  had  been  so  completely 
ravaged  during  many  months,  that  they  could  not  procure 
anything  like  enough  for  the  maintenance  of  a  numerous 
army.  The  return  of  all  who  had  been  sent  in  quest  of 
provisions  completed  the  terror  of  the  Christians.  At  the 
verv  moment  of  their  arrival  the  infidels  attacked  the  ad- 
vanced  posts  of  the  Crusaders ;  and,  even  in  these  early 
contests,  the  Christian  armv  had  to  lament  the  loss  of 
several  of  its  bravest  warriors.     Bohemond  was  wounded  in 

*  Matthew  of  Edessa  estimates  this  army  at  a  hundred  thousand  horse 
and  three  hundred  thousand  foot.  Abulfaradge  speaks  of  "  mille  mille  " 
horse.  The  Latin  historians  do  not  exaggerate  so  much,  but  do  not  at  all 
agree  in  their  accounts. 


HISTOUT    OF   THE    CETJSADES.  159 

a  sortie ;  in  vain  Tancred  and  Grodfrey  performed  prodigiea 
of  valour ;  the  Mussulmans  forced  the  Christians  to  shut 
themselves  up  in  a  place  of  which  the  latter  had  but  just 
made  themselves  masters,  and  in  which  they  were  soon 
closely  besieged  in  their  turn. 

Placed  between  the  garrison  of  the  citadel  and  a  besieging 
army,  the  Crusaders  found  themselves  in  a  most  critical 
position.  To  prevent  their  being  relieved  by  any  supplies 
by  sea,  two  thousand  Mussulmans  were  sent  by  Kerbogha 
to  take  possession  of  the  port  of  St.  Simeon,  and  of  all 
vessels  which  brought  provisions  to  the  Christian  army. 
Famine  was  not  long  in  making  its  appearance,  and  soon 
exercised  cruel  ravages  among  the  besieged. 

From  the  earliest  period  of  the  siege  the  Crusaders  could 
scarcely  procure  the  common  necessaries  of  life  at  theii 
weight  in  gold.  A  loaf  of  moderate  size  sold  at  a  bezant, 
an  egg  was  worth  six  Lucquese  deniers,  whilst  a  pound  of 
silver  was  given  for  the  head  of  an  ox,  a  horse,  or  an  ass. 
Grodfrey  bought  for  fifteen  silver  marks  a  half-starved  camel, 
and  gave  three  marks  for  a  goat,  which  at  other  times 
would  have  been  rejected  by  the  poorest  soldiers  of  his 
army.  Surrounded  by  the  vast  riches  conquered  from  the 
Saracens,  the  Crusaders  w^ere  thus  condemned  to  all  the 
horrors  and  miseries  of  famine.  After  having  killed  most 
of  their  horses,  they  were  compelled  to  make  war  upon 
unclean  animals.  The  soldiers  and  the  poor  who  followed 
the  army  supported  themselves  on  roots  and  leaves ;  some 
went  so  far  as  to  devour  the  leather  of  their  bucklers  and 
shoes,  whilst  the  most  wretched  exhumed  the  bodies  of  the 
Saracens,  and,  to  support  their  miserable  existence,  disputed 
with  death  for  his  prey.  In  this  frightful  distress,  discon- 
solate mothers  could  no  longer  nourish  their  babes,  and 
died  with  famine  and  despair.  Princes  and  knights,  whose 
pride  and  haughtiness  had  been  the  most  conspicuous,  were 
brought  to  the  necessity  of  asking  alms.  The  count  of 
Planders  went  begging  to  the  houses  and  in  the  streets  of 
Antioch  for  the  commonest  and  coarsest  orts,  and  often 
obtained  none.  More  than  one  leader  sold  his  arms  and  all 
his  appointments  for  food  to  support  him  a  single  day.  As 
long  as  the  duke  of  Lorraine  had  any  provisions  he  shared 
them  with  his  companions ;  but  at  length  he  made  the  sacri- 


160  HISTOET    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

fice  of  his  last  war-horse,  and  found  himself,  as  were  all  the 
other  Crusaders,  reduced  to  the  most  cruel  necessities. 

Many  of  the  Crusaders  endeavoured  to  fly  from  a  city 
which  presented  to  them  nothing  but  the  image  and  the 
prospect  of  death;  some  fled  by  sea,  through  a  thousand 
dangers,  whilst  others  cast  themselves  amongst  the  Mussul- 
mans, where  they  purchased  a  little  bread  by  the  abandon- 
ment of  Christ  and  his  religion.  The  soldiers  necessarily 
lost  courao^e  when  they  saw  that  coimt  de  Melun,  who  so 
often  defied  death  in  the  field,  a  second  time  fly  from  famine 
and  misery.  His  desertion  was  preceded  by  that  of  the 
count  de  Blois,  who  bore  the  standard  of  the  Crusaders,  and 
presided  at  their  councils.  He  had  quitted  the  army  two 
days  before  the  taking  of  Antioch,  and  when  he  learned  the 
arrival  of  Kerbogha,  he,  with  his  troops,  immediately 
marched  towards  Constantinople. 

Deserters  made  their  escape  during  the  darkness  of  night. 
Sometimes  they  precipitated  themselves  into  the  ditches  of 
the  city,  at  the  risk  of  their  lives  ;  sometimes  they  descended 
from  the  rampart's  by  means  of  a  cord.  Every  day  the 
Christians  found  themselves  abandoned  by  an  increasing 
number  of  their  companions  ;  and  these  desertions  added  to 
their  despair.  Heaven  was  invoked  against  the  dastards ; 
Grod  was  implored  that  they  might,  in  another  life,  share  the 
fate  of  the  traitor  Judas.  The  ignominious  epithet  of  rope- 
dancers  (sauteurs  de  corde)  was  attached  to  their  names, 
and  devoted  them  to  the  contempt  of  their  companions. 
"William  of  T}*re  refuses  to  name  the  crowd  of  knights  who 
then  desei-ted  the  cause  of  Jesus  Christ,  because  he  considers 
them  as  blotted  out  from  the  book  of  life  for  eA'er.*  The 
wishes  of  the  Christiims  against  those  who  fled  were  but  too 
completely  fulfilled ;  the  greater  part  perished  from  want, 
and  others  were  killed  by  the  Saracens.  Stephen,  count  of 
Chartres,  more  fortunate  than  his  companions,  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  camp  of  Alexius,  who  was  advancing  with  an 
army  towards  Antioch.  To  excuse  his  desertion,  he  did  not 
fail  to  paint,  in  the  darkest  colours,  all  the  misfortunes  and 
dangers  of  the  Christians,  and  to  make  it  appear  by  his 

*  Alii  raulti,  quorum  nomina  non  tenemus,  quia  delecta  de  libro  vitae, 
praesenti  operi  non  sunt  inserenda. —  Will,  of  Tyre,  lib.  iv. 


HISTORr   OF   THE    CRUSADES.  161 

accounts  that  God  had  abandoned  the  cause  of  the  Crusa- 
ders. The  despair  of  several  Latin  pilgrims  who  followed 
the  army  of  the  Gi-reeks  was  so  violent,  that  it  urged  them 
to  horrible  blasphemies.*  They,  groaning,  asked  why  the 
true  Grod  had  permitted  the  destruction  of  his  people  ?  why 
he  had  allowed  them,  who  were  going  to  deliver  the  tomb  of 
his  Son,  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  his  enemies  ?  Nothing 
was  heard  among  the  Latin  Crusaders  but  such  strange 
speeches,  and  Gruy,  the  brother  of  Bohemond,  exceeded  all 
the  rest  in  his  despair.  In  the  excess  of  his  grief,  he  blas- 
phemed more  than  any,  and  could  not  understand  the  mys- 
teries of  Providence,  which  betrayed  the  cause  of  the  Cliris- 
tians.  "  O  God,"  cried  he,  "  what  is  become  of  thy  power  ? 
If  thou  art  still  an  all-powerful  God,  what  is  become  of  thy 
justice  ?  Are  we  not  thy,  children,  are  we  not  thy  soldiers  ? 
"Who  is  the  father  of  a  family,  who  is  the  king  who  thus 
suffers  his  own  to  perish  when  he  has  the  power  to  save 
them  ?  If  you  abandon  those  who  fight  for  you,  who  will 
dare,  henceforward,  to  range  themselves  under  your  sacred 
banner?"  In  their  blind  grief,  all  the  Crusaders  repeated 
these  impious  words.  Such  was  the  frenzy  of  despair 
in  which  sorrow  had  plunged  them,  that,  according  to  the 
report  of  contemporary  historians,  all  ceremonies  of  religion 

*  These  speeches  and  the  complaints  of  the  Crusaders  are  almost  all 
translated  from  contemporary  historians.  We  feel  it  our  duty  to  report 
the  text  of  them  here. 

O  Deus  verus,  trinus  et  unus,  quam  ob  rem  hsec  fieri  permisisti  ? 
cur  populum  sequentem  te  in  manibus  inimicorum  incidere  permisisti  ? 
et  viam  tui  itineris,  tuique  sancti  sepulchri  liberantem  tam  cito  mori 
concessisti  ?  Irofecto,  si  hoc  verum  est,  quod  nos  ab  istis  nequissimis 
audivimus,  nobis  referentibus,  nos  et  alii  Christiani  derelinquemus  te,  nee 
te  amplius  remorabimur,  et  unus  ex  noljis  non  audebit  ulterius  nomen 
tuum  invocare.  Et  fuit  is  sermo  moestissimus  valor  in  tota  militia;  ita 
quod  nuUus  nostrorum  audebat,  neque  archiepiscopus,  neque  e])iscopus, 
neque  abbas,  neque  presbyter,  neque  dericus,  neque  quisque  laicus  Christ! 
invocare  nomen  per  plures  dies.  Nemo  poterat  consolari  Guidonem. — 
De  Hierosohjmitano  itinere,  Dnc?tene's  Collection,  torn.  iv.  p.  799. 

The  following  is  the  speecii  which  Robert  the  Monk  puts  into  the  mouth 
of  Guy,  the  brother  of  Bohemond  : — 

O  Deus  omnipotens,  ubi  est  virtus  tua  ?  Si  omnipntens  es,  cur  haec 
fieri  consensisti .'  Nonne  ei  ant  milites  tui  et  peregrini  ?  Qais  unquani 
rex  aut  imperator  aut  potens  dominus  familiam  suam  ita  peruiisit  occidi, 
si  uUo  modo  potuit  adjuvare  ?  Quis  erit  unquam  miles  tuus  aut  pere- 
grinus  i  &c.  &c. — Robert.  Monach.  lib.  v. 


162  HISTOET    or    THE    CETJSADES. 

Tvere  suspended,  and  no  priest  or  layman  during  many  days 
pronounced  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ. 

The  emperor  Alexius,  who  had  advanced  as  far  as  Philo- 
melium,  was  so  terrified  hy  all  he  heard,  that  he  did  not  dare 
to  continue  his  march  towards  Antioch.  He  thought,  says 
Anna  Comnena,  it  was  rash  to  attempt  to  succour  a  city 
whose  fortifications  had  been  ruined  by  a  long  siege,  and 
whose  only  defenders  were  soldiers  reduced  to  the  lowest 
state  of  misery.  Alexius  further  reflected,  says  the  same 
historian,  upon  the  indiscretion  and  the  inconstancy  of  the 
Franks,  upon  their  manner  of  making  war  Avithout  art  or 
rules,  and  upon  the  imprudence  with  which,  after  having 
conquered  their  enemies,  they  allowed  themselves  to  be 
surprised  by  the  very  same  people  whom  they  had  con- 
quered. He  likewise  thought  of  .the  difficulty  he  should 
have  in  making  his  arrival  known  to  the  Crusaders,  and  of 
the  still  greater  difficulty  of  making  their  leaders  agree 
wii:h  him  upon  the  best  means  to  save  them.  All  these 
motives  appeared  reasonable  ;  but  it  is  easy  to  believe 
that  Alexius  was  not  sorry  to  see  a  war  going  on  which  de- 
stroyed at  the  same  time  both  Turks  and  Latins.  However  it 
may  be,  the  resolution  which  he  took  of  returning  to  Con- 
stantinople threw  all  the  Christians  of  Phrj'gia  and  Bithynia 
into  the  greatest  alarm.  The  report  then  current  was  (and 
if  we  may  believe  Anna  Comnena,  it  was  from  the  insinua- 
tions of  Alexius)  that  the  Mussulmans  were  approaching  -with 
numerous  armies.  They  were  constantly  believed  to  be 
coming,  and  the  soldiers  of  the  emperor  themselves  laid 
waste  all  the  country  round  Philomelium,  which,  they  said, 
the  Saracens  were  about  to  invade.  Women,  children,  all 
the  Christian  families  followed  the  arniy  of  Alexius,  as  it 
returned  to  Constantinople.  They  bade  an  eternal  adieu  to 
their  native  country,  and  deplored  the  loss  of  their  property 
of  all  kinds.  Nothing  was  heard  in  the  army  but  lamenta- 
tions and  groans ;  but  they  who  evinced  the  greatest  grief 
were  the  Latins,  whose  wishes. were  all  centred  in  Syria,  and 
who  lost  all  hope  of  assisting  their  brethren  besieged  in  the 
city  of  Antioch. 

When  the  news  of  this  retreat  reached  Antioch,  it  greatly 
augmented  the  depression  of  the  Crusaders.  jS'ot  a  hope 
remained  to  them;   famine  carried  off  every  day  a  great 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  163 

number  of  soldiers  ;  their  weakened  arms  could  scarcely  liffc 
tlie  lance  or  the  sword ;  they  had  neither  strength  to  defend 
their  own  lives  nor  to  bury  their  dead.  In  the  midst  of  such 
frightful  misery,  not  a  tear  was  seen,  not  a  sob  was  heard ; 
the  silence  was  as  complete  in  Antioch  as  if  the  city  had 
been  buried  in  the  most  profound  night,  as  if  not  one  liying 
person  was  left  in  it.  The  Crusaders  had  not  even  the 
courage  of  despair  left.  The  last  feeling  of  nature,  the  love 
of  life,  was  becomiDg  daily  extinct  in  their  hearts ;  they 
feared  to  meet  each  other  in  the  public  places,  and  concealed 
themselves  in  the  interior  of  the  houses,  which  they  looked 
upon  as  their  tombs. 

The  towers  and  the  ramparts  remained  almost  without 
defence.  Bohemond,  who  had  taken  the  command  of  the 
place,  sought  in  vain  by  his  speeches  to  raise  the  courage  of 
the  Crusaders ;  in  vain  the  trumpets  and  the  serjeants-at- 
arms  called  them  to  the  combat.  Whilst  the  Mussulmans 
shut  up  in  the  citadel,  and  those  who  besieged  the  city,  every 
day  renewed  their  attacks,  the  Christian  warriors  remained 
immovable  in  their  dwellings.  In  order  to  drive  them  from 
their  retreats,  Bohemond  was  obliged  to  give  several  quarters 
of  the  city  up  to  the  flames.  Baoul  de  Caen  deplores,  in 
pompous  verses,  the  conflagration  and  the  ruiu  of  churches 
and  palaces,  huilt  tvith  the  cedars  of  Mount  Lebanon,  and  in 
which  shone  the  marble  of  Mount  Atlas,  the  crystal  of  Tyre, 
the  brass  of  Cyprus,  the  lead  of  Amathontis,  and  the  iron  of 
England.  The  barons  who  could  no  longer  enforce  the 
obedience  of  their  soldiers,  had  not  strength  to  ofi'er  them  an 
example.  Then  they  bitterly  remembered  their  families, 
their  castles,  their  wealth,  all  which  they  had  quitted  for  this 
unfortunate  war ;  they  could  not  comprehend  the  reverses 
of  the  Christian  army,  and  little  was  wanting,  says  William 
of  Tyre,  to  make  them  accuse  God  of  ingratitude,  for  having 
refused  so  many  sacrifices  made  to  the  glory  of  his  name. 

Matthew  of  Edessa  relates  that  the  Christian  leaders 
offered  to  give  up  the  city  to  Kerbogha,  upon  the  single 
condition  that  he  would  allow  them  and  their  soldiers  to 
return  to  their  own  countries,  taking  with  them  their  bag- 
gage. As  the  Saracen  general  rejected  their  proposal, 
several  of  them,  actuated  by  despair,  formed  the  project  of 
abandoning  the  army,  and  flying  by  night  towards  the  coast, 

Vol.  I.— 9 


164!  UISTOBY    or    THE    CEUSADES. 

"but  were  prevented  by  the  exhortations  of  Godfrey  and 
Bishop  Adbemar,  who  pointed  out  to  them  the  disgrace 
which  such  a  step  would  bring  upon  them  in  the  eyes  of 
both  Europe  and  Asia. 

The  famine  had  continued  its  ravages  for  more  than  two 
weeks,  and  the  ^Mussulmans  pressed  on  the  siege  with  the 
greater  ardour,  from  the  conviction  that  they  should  soon  be 
masters  of  the  city.  Fanaticism  and  superstition,  which 
had  precipitated  the  Crusaders  into  the  abyss  in  which  they 
were  now  plunged,  alone  had  the  power  to  re-animate  their 
courage,  and  extricate  them  from  such  fearful  perils.  Pro- 
phecies, revelations,  and  miracles  became  every  day  the  more 
frequent  subjects  of  report  in  the  Christian  army.  St. 
Ambrose  had  appeared  to  a  venerable  priest,  and  had  told 
him  that  the  Christians,  after  overcoming  all  their  enemies, 
would  enter  Jerusalem  as  conquerors,  and  that  Grod  would 
there  reward  their  exploits  and  their  labours.*  A  Lombard 
ecclesiastic  had  passed  the  night  in  one  of  the  churches  of 
Antioch,  and  had  there  seen  Jesus  Christ,  accompanied  by 
the  Virgin  and  the  prince  of  the  apostles.  The  Son  of  Grod, 
irritated  by  the  conduct  of  the  Crusaders,  rejected  their 
prayers,  and  abandoned  them  to  the  fate  they  had  too  richly 
merited ;  but  the  Yii'gin  fell  at  the  knees  of  her  son,  and 
by  her  tears  and  lamentations  appeased  the  anger  of  the 
Saviour.  "Arise,"  then  said  the  Son  of  God  to  the  priest, 
"  go  and  inform  my  people  of  the  return  of  my  commisera- 
tion ;  hasten  and  annoiuice  to  the  Christians,  that  if  they 
come  back  to  me,  the  houi*  of  their  deliverance  is  at  hand." 

They  whom  God  had  thus  made  the  depositaries  of  his 
secrets  and  his  will,  oftered,  in  attestation  of  the  truth  of 
theii'  ^'isions,  to  precipitate  themselves  from  a  lofty  tower, 
to  pass  through  flames,  or  to  submit  their  heads  to  the 
executioner;  but  these  proofs  were  not  necessary  to  persuade 
the  Crusaders,  always  ready  to  believe  in  prodigies,  and  who 
had  become  more  credulous  than  ever  in  the  moment  of 
danger  and  in  the  excess  of  their  misfortunes.     The  ima- 

*  We  have  thought  it  our  duty  to  report  all  these  criiraculous  visions  as 
they  are  found  in  contemporary  historians,  because  they  produced  a  great 
effect  upon  the  mind  of  the  Christians,  and  that  in  becoming  the  origin 
and  the  cause  of  the  greatest  events,  they  are  in  themselves  important 
events  for  histor}'. 


HISTOBT    or    THE    CETJSADES.  165 

gination  of  both  leaders  and  soldiers  was  easily  led  away 
by  the  promises  which  were  made  to  them  in  the  name  of 
Heaven.  The  hopes  of  a  more  prosperous  future  began  to 
re-animate  their  courage.  Tancred,  as  a  good  and  loyal 
knight,  swore,  that  as  long  as  he  had  sixty  companions  left, 
he  would  never  abandon  the  project  of  delivering  Jerusalem. 
Grodfrey,  Hugli,  Kaymond,  and  the  two  Roberts  took  the 
same  oath.  The  whole  army,  after  the  example  of  their 
leaders,  promised  to  fight  and  to  suffer  until  the  day 
appointed  for  the  deliverance  of  the  holy  places. 

In  the  midst  of  this  reviving  enthusiasm,  two  deserters 
came  before  the  Christian  army,  and  related  that,  when 
endeavouring  to  escape  from  Antioch,  they  had  been  stopped, 
the  one  by  his  brother,  who  had  been  killed  in  fight,  the 
other  by  Jesus  Christ  himself.  The  Saviour  of  mankind 
had  promised  to  deliver  Antioch.  The  warrior  who  had 
fallen  under  the  sword  of  the  Saracens  had  sworn  to  issue 
from  the  grave  with  all  his  companions,  equally  dead  as  him- 
self, to  fight  with  the  Christians.  In  order  to  crown  all 
these  heavenly  promises,  a  priest  of  the  diocese  of  Mar- 
seilles, named  Peter  Barthelemi,  came  before  the  council  of 
the  leaders,  to  reveal  an  apparition  of  St.  Andrew,  which 
had  been  repeated  three  times  during  his  sleep.  The  holy 
apostle  had  said  to  him :  "  Gro  to  the  church  of  my  brother 
Peter  at  Antioch.  Near  the  principal  altar  you  will  find, 
by  digging  up  the  earth,  the  iron  head  of  the  lance  which 
pierced  the  side  of  our  Eedeemer.  "Within  three  days  this 
instrument  of  eternal  salvation  shall  be  manifested  to  his 
disciples.  This  mystical  iron,  borne  at  the  head  of  the 
army,  shall  efiect  the  deliverance  of  the  Christians,  and 
shall  pierce  the  hearts  of  the  infidels."  *     Adhemar,  E-ay- 

*  The  discovery  of  this  lance  and  the  prodigies  that  it  operated  are 
related  by  all  the  historians  of  the  Crusades.  The  Arabian  historian 
Aboul-Maha^en  agrees,  in  the  principal  circumstances,  with  the  Latin 
historians.  The  most  credulous  of  the  latter,  and  he  who  gives  the 
greatest  number  of  details,  is  Raymond  d'Agiles.  Albert  d'Aix,  William 
of  Tyre,  Guibert,  and  Robert,  raise  not  the  least  doubt  about  the  authen- 
ticity of  the  lance.  Foucher  de  Chartres,  less  credulous,  says,  when 
relating  the  discovery,  Audi  fraudem  et  non  fraudem.  He  afterwards 
adds,  whilst  speaking  of  the  lance,  that  it  had  been  concealed  in  the  place 
from  which  it  was  taken  :  Invenit  lanceam,  fallaciter  occultatam  forsitan. 
The  historian  Paulus  Emilias,  who  relates  the  same  fact,  accompanies  it 


166  HISTOKT    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

mond,  and  the  other  leaders  believed,  or  feigned  to  believe, 
in  this  apparition,  an  account  of  which  soon  spread  through- 
out the  army.  The  soldiers  said  among  themselves  that 
nothing  was  impossible  to  the  Grod  of  the  Christians  ;  they 
further  believed  that  Jesus  Christ  was  interested  in  their 
welfare,  and  that  Grod  ought  to  perform  miracles  to  save  his 
disciples  and  defenders.  During  three  days  the  Christian 
armv  prepared  itself  by  fasting  and  prayer  for  the  discovery 
of  the  holy  lance. 

On  the  morning  of  the  third  day,  twelve  Crusaders  chosen 
from  amongst  the  most  respected  of  the  clergy  and  the 
knights,  repaired  to  the  church  of  Antioch  with  a  great 
number  of  workmen  pro'S'ided  with  the  necessary  instru- 
ments. They  began  by  digging  up  the  earth  under  the 
principal  altar.  The  greatest  silence  prevailed  in  the 
church ;  the  spectators  expecting  every  instant  to  see  the 
glitter  of  the  miraculous  lance.  The  whole  army,  assembled 
round  the  doors,  which  they  had  had  the  precaution  to  shut, 
awaited  with  impatience  the  results  of  the  search.  The 
diggers  worked  during  several  hours,  and  had  gone  to  the 
depth  of  twelve  feet  without  any  appearance  of  the  lance. 
They  continued  their  operations  till  evening  without  dis- 
covering anything.  The  impatience  of  the  Christians  still 
increased.  In  the  middle  of  the  night  another  attempt  was 
made.  Whilst  the  tvv-elve  witnesses  were  at  prayers  round 
the  sides  of  the  hole,  Barthelemi  precipitated  himself  into  it, 
and  in  a  short  time  re-appeared,  holding  the  sacred  iron  in 
his  hands.  A  cry  of  joy  arose  among  the  spectators,  which 
was  repeated  by  the  soldiers  who  waited,  at  the  doors,  and 
which  soon  resounded  through  all  quarters  of  the  city.  The 
iron  on  which  all  the  hopes  of  the  Christians  were  centred,  was 
exhibited  in  triumph  to  the  Crusaders,  to  whom  it  appeared 
a  celestial  weapon  with  which  God  himself  would  disperse 

with  highly  philosophical  reflections.  Yves  Duchat  says,  on  commencing 
the  relation — "  Then  there  happened  a  marvellous  affair,  of  which  some 
have  left  a  written  account,  which  I  would  not  affirm  to  be  entirely  true, 
nor  would  I  oppugn  it  as  false."  Anna  Conmena  says  nothing  about 
the  lance,  but  speaks  of  the  nails  which  had  been  used  to  nail  Christ  to 
the  cross.  Albu-faradge  commits  the  same  error.  In  general  the 
accounts  of  both  the  Greeks  and  the  Arabians  of  this  war  must  be  read 
with  much  precaution  ;  they  furnish  us  with  very  few  positive  ideas. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    CRUSADES.  167 

his  enemies.  Every  mind  became  excited,  and  doubts  were 
no  longer  entertained  of  the  protection  of  Heaven.  Enthu- 
siasm gave  new  life  to  the  army,  and  restored  strength  and 
vigour  to  the  Crusaders.  All  the  horrors  of  famine,  and 
even  tVie  numbers  of  their  enemies  were  forgotten.  The 
most  pusillanimous  thirsted  for  the  blood  of  the  Saracens, 
and  all  demanded  with  loud  cries  to  be  led  forth  to  battle. 

The  leaders  of  the  Christian  army  who  had  prepared 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  soldiers,  now  employed  themselves  in 
taking  advantage  of  it.  They  sent  deputies  to  the  general 
of  the  Saracens,  to  offer  him  either  a  single  combat  or  a 
general  battle.  Peter  the  Hermit,  who  had  evinced  more 
exaltation  than  any  other  person,  was  chosen  for  this  em- 
bassy. Although  received  with  contempt  in  the  camp  of 
the  infidels,  he  delivered  himself  no  less  haughtily  or 
boldly.  "  The  princes  assembled  in  Antioch,"  said  Peter, 
addressing  the  Saracen  leaders,  "  have  sent  me  to  de- 
mand justice  of  you.  These  provinces,  stained  with  the 
blood  of  martyrs,  have  belonged  to  Christian  nations,  and  as 
all  Christian  people  are  brothers,  we  are  come  into  Asia  to 
avenge  the  injuries  of  those  who  have  been  persecuted,  and 
to  defend  the  heritage  of  Christ  and  his  disciples.  Heaven 
has  allowed  the  cities  of  Syria  to  fall  for  a  time  into  the 
power  of  infidels,  in  order  to  chastise  the  offences  of  his 
people ;  but  learn  that  the  vengeance  of  the  Most  High  is 
appeased ;  learn  that  the  tears  and  penitence  of  the  Chris- 
tians have  turned  aside  the  sword  of  divine  justice,  and  that 
the  God  of  armies  has  arisen  to  fight  on  our  side.  Never- 
theless we  still  consent  to  speak  of  peace.  I  conjure  you, 
in  the  name  of  the  all-powerful  Grod,  to  abandon  the  terri- 
tory of  Antioch  and  retiu-n  to  your  own  country.  The 
Christians  promise  you,  by  my  voice,  not  to  molest  you  in 
your  retreat.  We  will  even  put  up  prayers  for  you  that 
the  true  Grod  may  touch  your  hearts,  and  permit  you  to  see 
the  truth  of  our  faith.  If  Heaven  deigns  to  listen  to  us, 
how  delightful  it  will  be  to  us  to  give  you  the  name  of 
brethren,  and  to  conclude  Avith  you  a  lasting  peace !  But 
if  you  are  not  willing  to  accept  either  the  blessings  of  peace 
or  the  benefits  of  the  Christian  religion,  let  the  fate  of 
battle  at  length  decide  the  justice  of  our  cause.  As  the 
Christians  will  not  be  taken  by  surprise,  and  as  they  are 


168  HISTORY   OF   THE    CEUSADES. 

not  accustomed  to  steal  \'ictories,  thev  offer  you  the  clioice 
of  combat."*  AVheii  finishing  his  discourse,  Peter  fixed  his 
eyes  upon  the  leader  of  the  Saracens,  and  said,  "  Choose 
from  amongst  the  brayest  of  thy  army,  and  let  them  do 
battle  with  an  equal  number  of  the  Crusaders  ;  fight  thyself 
v.ith  one  of  our  Christian  princes  ;  or  give  the  signal  for  a 
general  battle. f  Whatever  may  be  thy  choice,  thou  shalt 
soon  learn  what  thy  enemies  are,  and  thou  shalt  know  what 
tlie  jrreat  God  is  whom  we  serve  !" 

Iverbogha,  who  knew  the  situation  of  the  Christians,  and 
who  was  not  aware  of  tlie  kind  of  succour  they  had  received 
in  their  distress,  was  much  surprised  at  such  language.  He 
remained  for  some  time  mute  with  astonishment  and  rage, 
but  at  length  said,  "  Return  to  them  who  sent  you,  and  tell 
them  it  is  the  part  of  the  conquered  to  receive  conditions, 
and  not  to  dictate  them.  Miserable  vagabonds,  extenuated 
men,  phantoms  may  terrify  women ;  but  tlie  warriors  of 
Asia  are  not  intimidated  by  vain  words.  The  Christians 
shall  soon  learn  that  the  land  we  tread  upon  belongs  to  us. 
Nevertheless  I  am  willing  to  entertain  some  pity  for  them, 
and  if  they  will  acknowledge  Mahomet,  I  may  forget  that 
this  city,  a  prey  to  famine,  is  already  in  my  power ;  I  may 
leave  it  in  their  hands,  and  give  them  arms,  clothes,  bread, 
women,  in  sliort,  all  tliat  they  have  not ;  for  tlie  Koran  bids 
us  pardon  all  who  submit  to  its  laws.  Bid  thy  companions 
hasten,  and  on  this  very  day  take  advantage  of  my  clemency ; 
to-morrow  they  shall  only  leave  Antioch  by  the  sword. 
They  will  then  see  if  their  crucified  God,  who  could  not 
save  himself  from  the  cross,  can  save  them  from  the  fate 
which  is  prepared  for  them." 

This  speech  was  loudly  applauded  by  the  Saracens,  whose 
fanaticism  it  rekindled.  Peter  wished  to  renlv,  but  the 
sultan  of  Mossoul,  placing  his  hand  upon  his  sword,  com- 
manded that  these  miserable  mendicants,  who  united  blind- 
ness with  insolence,  should  be  driven  away.  The  Christian 
deputies  retired  in  haste,  and  were  in  danger  of  losing  their 

*  This  speech  is  reported  by  most  of  the  Larin  historians  of  the  cru- 
sades. We  have  preserved  the  spirit  of  it,  with  the  most  scrupulous 
exactness. 

t  Anna  Cornnena  speaks  of  a  pretended  single  combat  between  the 
count  of  Flanders  and  the  general  of  the  Saracens. 


IIISTOKY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  169 

lives  several  times  whilst  passing  through  the  army  of  the 
infidels.  Peter  rendei-ed  an  account  of  his  mission  to  the 
assembled  princes  and  barons ;  and  all  immediately  prepared 
for  battle,  Tlie  heralds-at-arms  proceeded  through  the 
different  quarters  of  the  city,  and  battle  "vvas  promised  for 
the  next  day  to  the  impatient  valour  of  the  Crusaders. 

The  priests  and  bishops  exhorted  the  Christians  to  render 
themselves  worthy  of  fighting  for  the  cause  of  Jesus  Christ ; 
and  the  whole  army  passed  the  night  in  prayer  and  acts  of 
devotion.  Injuries  were  forgiven,  alms  were  bestov/ed,  and 
all  the  churches  were  filled  with  warriors,  who  humbled 
themselves  before  God,  and  implored  a  remission  of  their 
sins.  The  preceding  evening  some  provisions  had  been 
found,  and  this  unexpected  abundance  was  considered  as  a 
species  of  miracle.  The  Crusaders  repaired  their  strength 
by  a  frugal  meal ;  and  towards  the  end  of  the  night,  that 
which  remained  of  bread  and  meal  in  Antioch  served  for  the 
sacrifice  of  the  mass.  A  hundi-ed  thousand  warriors  ap- 
proached the  tribunal  of  penitence,  and  received,  with  all 
the  evidences  of  piety,  the  God  for  whom  they  had  taken 
up  arms.* 

At  length  day  appeared ;  it  was  the  festival  of  St.  Peter 
and  St.  Paul.  The  gates  of  Antioch  were  thrown  open,  and 
the  whole  Christian  army  marched  out  in  twelve  divisions, 
symbolical  of  the  twelve  apostles.  Hugh  the  Great,  though 
weakened  by  a  long  illness,  appeared  in  the  foremost  ranks, 
and  bore  the  standard  of  the  Church.  All  the  princes, 
knights,  and  barons  were  at  the  head  of  their  men-at-arms. 
The  only  one  of  all  the  leaders  that  did  not  appear  in  the 
ranks  was  the  count  de  Thoulouse ;  detained  in  Antioch  by 
the  consequences  of  a  woimd,  he  was  charged  with  the  duty 
of  watching  the  garrison  of  the  citadel,  whilst  his  companions 
went  to  give  battle  to  the  army  of  the  Saracens. 

Eaymond  d' Agiles,t  one  of  the  historians  of  the  crusade, 

*  Letanias  siipplices,  ab  ecclesia  in  ecclesiara,  explicant ;  confessione 
peccatorutB  sinceri  se  mundant,  et  episcopal!  vel  sacerdotali  consequenter 
absolutione  promerita,  corporis  ac  sanguinis  Domini  sacramento,  plena 
fide  communicant,  &c. —  Gitibert,  lib.  vi. 

Missae  per  ecclesias  celebratse  sunt ;  omnesqiie  sancta  doniinici  corporis 
communione  communicati  sunt. — Robert.  Mon.  lib.  vii. 

t  Vidi  ego  heec  quae  loquor,  et  dominicam  lanceam  ibi  ferebam. — 
Rayni.  d' Affiles,  p.  155,  apud  Beng. 


170  nisTOEY  or  the  ceitsades. 

bore  the  holy  lance,  and  directed  the  attention  of  the  soldiers 
to  it.  Adhemar  marched  by  the  side  of  Eaymond,  an- 
nouncing to  the  Crusaders  the  help  of  the  celestial  legions 
which  Grod  had  promised  them.  A  part  of  the  clergy  ad- 
vanced in  procession  at  the  head  of  the  army,  singing  the 
martial  psalm,  "  Let  the  Lord  arise,  and  let  his  enemies  be 
dispersed.''  The  bishops  and  priests  who  had  remained  in 
Antioch,  surrounded  by  the  women  and  children,  from  the 
top  of  the  ramparts  blessed  the  arms  of  the  Crusaders,  prav- 
ino-  the  Lord  to  preserve  his  people  and  confound  the  pride 
of  his  enemies.  The  banks  of  the  Orontes  and  the  neigh- 
bouring mountains  appeared  to  answer  to  these  invocations, 
and  resounded  with  the  war-crv  of  the  Crusaders,  "  It  is  the 
will  of  God!  It  is  the  will  of  God!'' 

Amidst  this  concert  of  acclamations  and  prayers,  the 
Christian  army  advanced  into  the  plain.  To  judge  only  by 
the  state  of  misery  to  which  they  had  been  reduced,  they 
had  rather  the  appearance  of  a  conquered  army  than  of  an 
army  of  men  marchins:  to  "V'ictorv.  A  oreat  number  of  the 
Crusaders  were  without  clothes.  The  greater  part  of  the 
kniorhts  and  barons  marched  on  foot.  Some  were  mounted  on 
asses  and  camels,  and,  what  is  not  an  indiiferent  circumstance 
on  this  dav,  Godfrey  de  Boudlon  had  been  oblio:ed  to  bor- 
row  a  horse  of  the  count  de  Thoulouse.  In  the  ranks  were 
sick  and  attenuated  soldiers,  weakened  by  famine,  and  march- 
ing with  difficulty,  who  were  only  supported  by  the  hope  of 
conquering  or  of  dying  for  the  cause  of  Jesus  Christ. 

The  whole  country-  round  Antioch  was  covered  with  the 
Mussulman  battalions.  The  Saracens  had  divided  their 
army  into  fifteen  bodies  arranged  in  echelons.  In  the  midst 
of  all  these,  the  division  of  Kerbogha,  says  the  Armenian 
historian,  appeared  like  an  inaccessible  mountain.  The  Sara- 
cen general,  who  had  no  expectation  of  a  battle,  at  first 
believed  that  the  Clu-istians  were  come  to  implore  his 
clemency.  A  black  flag  flying  over  the  citadel  of  Antioch, 
which  was  the  signal  agreed  upon  to  announce  the  resolution 
of  the  Crusaders,  soon  informed  him  that  he  had  not  to  deal 
with  supplicants.  Two  thousand  men  of  his  army,  who 
guarded  the  passage  of  the  bridge  of  Antioch,  were  cut  in 
pieces  by  the  coimt  de  Vermandois.  The  fugitives  carried 
terror  to  the  tent  of  their  general,  who  was  playing  at  chess. 


HISTOET    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  171 

Aroused  from  his  false  security,  the  sultan  of  Mossoul  or- 
dered the  head  of  a  deserter  to  be  cut  off  who  had  announced 
to  him  the  speedy  surrender  of  the  Christians,  and  then  set 
himself  seriously  to  the  task  of  fighting  an  enemy  whose 
auxiliaries  were  fanaticism  and  despair. 

On  marching  out  of  Antioch*  the  Christians  advanced 
westwards  towards  the  spot  where  the  mountains  draw  near 
to  the  Orontes.  Ranged  in  order  of  battle,  in  a  vast  space 
where  the  mountains  formed  a  semicircle  around  them  and 
secured  them  from  surprise,  they  extended  across  the  plain 
a  league  from  the  city.  Hugh,  the  two  E-oberts.  the  count 
de  Belesme,  and  the  count  of  Hainaut  placed  themselves  at 
the  head  of  the  left  wing ;  Grodfrey  was  on  the  right,  sup- 
ported by  Eustace,  Baldwin  du  Bourg,  Tancred,  Einaldo  de 
Toul,  and  Erard  de  Puyset.  Adhemar  was  in  the  centre, 
with  Graston  de  Beam,  the  count  de  Die,  Eaimbaut  of 
Orange,  "William  of  Montpellier,  and  Amanjeu  d'Albret. 
Bohemond  commanded  a  body  of  reserve,  ready  to  act  upon 
all  points  wdiere  the  Christians  might  require  assistance. 
Kerbogha,  who  saw  the  disposition  of  the  Crusaders,  ordered 
the  sultans  of  Nice,  Damascus,  and  Aleppo,  to  make  the 
tour  of  the  mountain  and  then  reascend  the  Orontes,  so  as 
to  place  themselves  between  the  Christian  army  and  the 
city.  He  at  the  same  time  drew  his  army  up  in  line  of 
battle  to  receive  the  Christians  and  repulse  their  attack. 
He  placed  his  troops  partly  on  the  heights  and  partly  on  the 
plain.  His  right  wing  was  commanded  by  the  emir  of 
Jerusalem,  and  his  left  wing  by  one  of  the  sons  of  Accien. 
For  himself  he  remained  upon  a  high  hill,  to  give  his  orders 
and  watch  the  movements  of  the  two  armies. 

At  the  moment  of  the  commencement  of  the  battle,  Ker- 
bogha was  seized  with  fear,   and  sent  to  propose   to  the 

*  Pierre  Angelli,  author  of  a  Latin  poem  o-n  the  first  crusade,  which 
has  for  title,  Syriados  Libri  XII.,  describes  this  battle  at  great  length,  and 
reports  one  part  of  the  miraculous  circumstances  by  which  it  was  accom- 
panied ;  but  his  recital  is  too  diffuse  to  excite  much  interest.  The  Syriade 
begins  with  the  first  voyage  of  Peter  the  Hermit  to  Jerusalem,  and  is 
nothing  but  a  copy  in  verse  of  the  histories  of  William  of  Tyre,  Albert 
d'Aix,  and  others.  After  having  described  the  march  and  the  early 
labours  of  the  Crusaders,  the  Latin  poet  arrives,  towards  the  end  of  the 
last  canto,  at  the  siege  of  Jerusalem,  to  which  he  only  consecrates  a 
hundred  verses. 


172  UISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

Christian  princes,  that  in  order  to  spare  the  effusion  of 
blood,  they  should  select  some  of  their  knights  to  fight 
against  an  equal  number  of  Saracens.  This  proposal,  which 
had  been  rejected  the  day  before,  could  not  be  adopted  by 
the  leaders  of  an  armv  full  of  ardour  and  confident  of  vie- 
tory.  The  Christians  entertained  no  doubt  that  Heaven 
had  declared  itself  in  their  favour,  and  this  persuasion  must 
render  them  invincible.  In  their 'enthusiasm,  they  looked 
upon  the  most  natui-al  events  as  prodigies  announcing  to 
them  the  triumph  of  their  arms.  A  globe  of  fire,  which  on 
the  preceding  evening  had  passed  across  the  horizon  and 
burst  over  the  camp  of  the  Saracens,  appeared  to  them  a 
sign  foretelling  their  Adctory.  As  they  left  Antioch  a  light 
rain  refreshed  the  burning  air  of  the  climate  and  the  season, 
and  was  in  their  eyes  a  fresh  proof  of  the  favour  of  Heaven. 
A  strong  ^vind,  which  assisted  the  flight  of  their  javelins 
and  impeded  that  of  the  arrows  of  the  Turks,  was  for  them 
as  the  wind  of  heavenly  anger  raised  to  disperse  the  infidels. 
Animated  by  this  persuasion,  the  Christian  army  showed 
the  greatest  impatience  to  begin  the  fight.  They  marched 
towards  the  enemy  in  perfect  order.  A  profound  silence 
reissued  over  the  plain,  on  all  parts  of  which  shone  the  arms 
of  the  Clu-istians.  2s  o  sound  was  heard  in  their  ranks  but 
the  voices  of  the  leaders,  the  hymns  of  the  priests,  and  the 
exhortations  of  Adhemar. 

All  at  once  the  Saracens  commenced  the  attack  by  dis- 
charging a  cloud  of  arrows  and  then  rushing  on  the  Crusa- 
ders, uttering  barbarous  cries.  In  spite  of  their  impetuous 
shock,  their  right  wing  was  soon  repulsed  and  penetrated  by 
the  Christians.  Godfrey  met  '>rith  greater  resistance  in 
then  left  wing  ;  he  succeeded,  however,  in  breaking  it  and 
carrving  disorder  amons:  their  ranks.  At  the  moment  that 
the  troops  of  Kerbogha  began  to  give  way,  the  sultan  of 
Kice,  who  had  made  the  tour  of  the  mountain  and  returned 
along  the  banks  of  the  Orontes,  fell  with  impetuosity  upon 
the  rear  of  the  Christian  army,  and  threatened  destruction 
to  the  bodv  of  reserve  commanded  bv  Bohemond.  The 
Crusaders,  who  fought  on  foot,  could  not  resist  the  first 
charge  of  the  Saracen  cavalry.  Hugh  the  Great,  warned  of 
the  danger  of  Bohemond,  abandoned  the  pursuit  of  the  fugi- 
tives, and  hastened  to  the  succour  of  the  body  of  reserve. 


HISTOltY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  173 

Then  tlie  battle  was  renewed  with  redoubled  fury.  Kilidj 
Arslan,  who  had  to  avenge  the  shame  of  several  defeats  as 
well  as  the  loss  of  his  states,  fought  like  a  lion  at  the  head 
of  his  troops.  A  squadron  of  three  thousand  Saracen  horse, 
clothed  in  steel  and  armed  with  clubs,  carried  disorder  and 
terror  through  the  ranks  of  the  Christians.  The  standard 
of  the  count  de  Vermandois  was  carried  away,  and  retaken, 
covered  vrith  the  blood  of  Crusaders  and  infidels.  Godfrey 
and  Tancred,  who  flew  to  the  assistance  of  Hugh  and  Bohe- 
mond,  signalized  their  strength  and  valour  by  the  death  of  a 
great  many  Mussulmans.  The  sultan  of  JNTice,  whom  no 
reverse  could  overcome,  firmly  withstood  the  shock  of  the 
Christians.  In  the  heat  of  the  combat,  he  ordered  lighted 
flax  to  be  thrown  amongst  the  low  bushes  and  dried  grass 
which  covered  the  plain.  Immediately  a  blaze  arose  which 
enveloped  the  Christians  in  masses  of  flame  and  smoke. 
Their  ranks  were  for  a  moment  broken ;  they  could  no  longer 
either  see  or  hear  their  leaders.  The  sultan  of  jSTice  was 
about  to  gather  the  fruits  of  his  stratagem,  and  victory  was 
on  the  point  of  escaping  from  the  hands  of  the  Crusaders. 

At  this  moment,  say  the  historians,  a  squadron  was  seen 
to  descend  from  the  summit  of  the  mountains,  preceded  by 
three  horsemen  clothed  in  white  and  covered  with  shinins: 
armour.  "  Behold !"  cried  Bishop  Adhemar,*  "  the  heavenly 
succour  which  was  promised  to  you.  Heaven  declares  for 
the  Cliristians ;  the  holy  martyrs  Greorge,  Demetrius,  and 
Theodore  come  to  fight  for  you."  Immediately  all  eyes 
Avere  turned  towards  the  celestial  legion.     A  new  ardour 

*  It  is  surprising  that  Raonl  de  Caen,  who  describes  this  battle,  and  in 
epic  verse  too,  lias  related  no  marvellous  circumstance.  Raymond  d'Agiles 
makes  no  mention  of  the  heavenly  legion,  but  he  says  :  Multiplicavit 
insuper  adeo  Dominus  exercitum  nostrum,  ut  qui  ante  pugnam  pauciores 
eraraus  quam  hostes,  in  bello  plures  eis  fuimus.  Oderic  Vital  speaks 
thus  of  the  legion  which  appeared  to  descend  froln  heaven  :  Ecce,  Deo 
gratias,  ab  ipsis  montanis  visus  est  exire  exercitus  innumerabiiis,  albis 
equis  insidentes,  et  in  manibus  Candida  vexilla  praeferentes.  Hoc  multi 
viderunt  Christianorum,  et  sicut  putant,  gentilium,  et  haesitantes,  mira- 
bantur  quidnam  esset.  Tandem  utrique  cognoverunt  signum  de  coelo 
factum,  et  duces  illius  agminis,  sanctos  martyres  Georgium,  Demetrium, 
et  Theodorum  sua  signa  ferentes  prsecedere  cognoverunt.  Sarracenis 
multustimor  inhaesit,  et  Christianis  spes  meliorcrevit. — Od.  Vital,  lib.  ix. 
Robert  the  Monk  and  Baldric  relate  the  same  circumstance  and  the  same 
details. 


174  HISTOET    or    THE    CHL'SADES. 

inspired  the  Christians,  who  were  persuaded  that  God  hini- 
sell"  was  coming  to  their  aid,  and  the  war-ciy  "  It  is  the  will 
of  God  r'  was  heard  as  at  the  beginning  of  the  battle.  The 
"vsomen  and  children  who  had  remained  in  Antioch,  and 
were  collected  on  the  walls,  animated  the  courage  of  the 
Crusaders  by  their  cries  and  acclamations,  whilst  the  priests 
continued  to  raise  their  hands  towards  heaven,  and  returned 
thanks  to  God  by  songs  of  praise  and  thanksgiving  for  the 
succour  he  had  sent  to  the  Christians.  Of  the  Crusaders 
themselves  each  man  became  a  hero,  and  nothing  could 
stand  before  their  impetuous  charge.  In  a  moment  the 
ranks  of  the  Saracens  were  evervwhere  broken,  and  they 
only  fought  in  confusion  and  disorder.  They  endeavoured 
to  rally  on  the  other  side  of  a  torrent  and  upon  an  elevated 
point  whence  their  trumpets  and  clarions  resounded;  but 
the  count  de  Yermandois  attacked  them  in  this  last  post 
and  completely  routed  them.  They  had  now  no  safety  but 
in  flight,  and  the  banks  of  the  Orontes,  the  woods,  the 
plains,  the  mountains  were  covered  with  the  fugitives,  who 
abandoned  both  their  arms  and  their  hass^se. 

Kerbogha,  who  had  been  so  certain  of  victory  as  to  have 
announced  the  defeat  of  the  Christians  to  the  caliph  of 
Bagdad  and  the  sultan  of  Persia,  fled  towards  the  Euphrates, 
escorted  bv  a  small  bodv  of  his  most  faithful  soldiers. 
Several  of  the  emirs  had  taken  to  flight  before  the  end  of 
the  battle.  Tancred  and  some  others,  mounted  on  the 
horses  of  the  conquered  enemy,  pui'sued  till  night-fall  the 
sultans  of  Aleppo  and  Damascus,  the  emir  of  Jerusalem, 
and  the  scattered  wreck  of  the  Saracen  army.  The  con- 
querors  set  fire  to  the  intrenchments  behind  which  the 
enemv's  infantrv  had  sous^ht  refuo^e,  and  a  vast  number  of 
Mussulmans  perished  iq  the  flames. 

According  to  the  account  of  several  contemporary  his- 
torians, the  infidels  left  a  hundred  thousand  dead  on  the 
field  of  battle.  Pour  thousand  Crusaders  lost  their  lives  on 
this  glorious  day,  and  were  placed  among  the  ranks  of  the 
martyrs. 

The  Christians  found  abundance  beneath  the  tents  of 
their  enemies ;  fifteen  thousand  camels  and  a  great  number 
pf  horses  fell  into  their  hands.  As  they  passed  the  night 
in  the  camp  of  the  Saracens,  they  had  leisure  to  admire  the 


HISTOEY    OF    TUE    CRUSADES.  175 

luxury  of  the  Orientals,  and  they  examined  with  the 
greatest  surprise  the  tent  of  the  king  of  Mossoul,*  re- 
splendent with  gold  and  precious  stones,  which,  divided 
into  long  streets  flanked  by  high  towers,  resembled  a  for- 
tified city.  They  employed  several  days  in  carrying  the 
spoils  into  Antioch.  The  booty  was  immense,  and  every 
Crusader,  according  to  the  remark  of  Albert  d'Aix,  found 
himself  much  richer  than  he  was  when  he  quitted  Europe. 

The  sight  of  the  Saracen  camp  after  the  battle  proved 
plainly  that  they  had  displayed  much  more  splendour  and 
magnificence  than  true  courage.  The  veteran  warriors,  the 
companions  of  Malek-Scha,  had  almost  all  perished  in  the 
civil  wars  which  had  for  so  many  years  desolated  the  empire 
of  the  Seljoucides.  The  army  that  came  to  the  succour  of 
Antioch  was  composed  of  raw  troops,  levied  in  haste,  and 
reckoned  under  its  standards  several  rival  nations,  always 
ready  to  take  up  arms  against  each  other. f  It  is  the  duty 
of  the  historian  to  admit  that  the  twenty-eight  emirs  who 
accompanied  Kerbogha  were  almost  all  at  variance  with  one 
another,  and  scarcely  acknowledged  the  authority  of  a  chief. 
On  the  contrary,  the  greatest  union  prevailed  on  this  day 
among:  the  Christians.  The  different  bodies  of  their  army 
fought  upon  one  single  point,  and  afforded  each  other  mutual 
support,  whereas  Kerbogha  had  divided  his  forces.  In  this 
battle,  but  more  particularly  in  the  circumstances  whicli 
preceded  it,  the  sultan  of  Mossoul  showed  more  presumption 
than  skill ;  by  the  slowness  of  his  march  he  lost  the  oppor- 
tunity of  assisting  Accien  or  of  surprising  the  Crusaders. 
Afterwards,  too  certain  of  victory,  he  never  dreamt  of  what 
despair  and  fanaticism  are  able  to  effect.  These  two  power- 
ful principles  greatly  increased  the  natural  bravery  of  the 
Franks.  The  horrible  distress  to  which  they  had  been  re- 
duced only  tended  to  make  them  invincible,  and  in  that  we 
shall  find  the  miracle  of  the  day. 

*  This  tent  was  able  to  contain  more  than  two  thousand  persons. 
Bohemond  sent  it  into  Italy,  where  it  was  preserved  for  a  length  of  time. 

f  Gemaleddin,  who  of  all  the  Oriental  historians  gives  the  greatest 
number  of  details  upon  the  taking  and  the  battle  of  Antioch,  reports  that 
a  violent  quarrel  had  broken  out  between  the  Turks  and  the  Arabs ;  he 
even  adds  that  the  Arabs  had  retired  before  the  battle,  and  that  in  the 
course  of  it  the  Turks  turned  theii*  arms  against  their  allies. 


176  HISTORY    OF    THE    CUV r.ADi-:.-^. 

When  the  danger  was  past,  the  holy  hmce  which  had  ijjlveu 
so  much  confidence  to  the  Crusaders  dui'ing  the  battle,  no 
longer  excited  their  veneration,  and  lost  all  its  marvellous 
influence.  As  it  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  count  of 
Thoulouse  and  his  Proven9als,  to  whom  it  brought  a  great 
number  of  oflerinsis,  the  other  nations  were  not  wiliino:  to 
leave  them  the  sole  advantage  of  a  miracle  which  augmented 
their  consideration  and  their  wealth  ;  and,  as  we  shall  soon 
see,  it  was  not  long  before  doubts  were  raised  upon  the 
authenticitv  of  the  lance  which  had  effected  such  wonders, 
and  the  spii^it  of  rivalry  did  that  which  reason  might  have 
done  in  a  more  enli2:htened  age. 

The  -victory  of  Antioch  appeared  to  the  Saracens  to  be  so 
extraordinary  an  event  that  many  of  them  abandoned  the  reh- 
gion  of  their  prophet.  Those  who  defended  the  citadel  were  so 
struck  with  terror  and  surprise,  that  they  surrendered  to 
Raymond  the  very  day  of  the  battle.  Three  hundred  of 
them  embraced  the  faith  of  the  holy  Grospel,  and  many 
went  among  the  cities  of  Svria  declaring  that  the  God  of  the 
Christians  must  be  the  true  Grod. 

After  this  memorable  day  the  Turks  made  scarcely  any 
eflbrt  to  impede  the  march  of  the  Christians.  This  last 
triumph  of  the  Franks  appeared  to  them  like  a  decision  of 
heaven  that  men  ought  not  to  contend  against.  Most  of 
the  emirs  of  Svria  who  had  shared  the  spoils  of  the  sultan 
of  Persia,  considered  the  invasion  of  the  Christians  as  a 
passing  calamity,  ^\^.thout  thinking  of  the  consequences  it 
niicjht  leave  behind,  and  onlv  sousfht  to  take  advantacje  of  it 
to  assure  their  ovra  domination  and  independence.  The 
dvnasty  of  the  Seljoucides  was  every  day  losing  its  strength 
and  its  splendour.  The  vast  empire  of  Togi'ul,  Alp-Arslan, 
and  Malek-Scha  was  crumbKno^  awav  on  all  sides  amidst 
ci^il  and  foreign  wars.  This  empire,  created  towards  the 
middle  of  the  eleventh  centurv,  whose  sudden  increase  had 
alarmed  Constantinople  and  carried  terror  even  among  the 
nations  of  the  West,  was  soon  doomed  to  see  other  states 
elevate  themselves  upon  its  ruins ;  for,  according  to  the 
remark  of  an  historian,  it  might  be  said  that  God  was 
pleased  to  show  how  insignificant  the  earth  is  in  his  eyes, 
by  thus  causing  to  pass  from  hand  to  hand,  like  a  child's 
toy,  a  power  so  monstrous  as  to  tlu-eaten  the  universe. 


HISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  177 

The  first  care  of  the  Crusaders  after  their  \*ictory  was  to 
put,  if  ^^'e  may  say  so,  Jesus  Christ  iu  possession  of  the 
countries  they  had  just  conquered,  by  re-establishing  his 
worship  in  Antioch.  The  capital  of  Syria  had  all  at  once  a 
new  religion,  and  was  inhabited  by  a  new  people.  A  con- 
siderable part  of  the  spoils  of  the  Saracens  was  employed 
in  repairing  and  ornamenting  the  churches  which  had  been 
converted  into  mosques.  The  Greeks  and  the  Latins  min- 
gled their  vows  and  their  hymns,  and  prayed  together  to  tho 
Grod  of  the  Christians  to  conduct  them  to  Jerusalem.  The 
leaders  of  the  army  then  joined  in  addressing  a  letter  to  the 
princes  and  nations  of  the  West,  in  which  they  made  a 
relation  of  their  labours  and  then"  exploits.  That  they 
might  not  trouble  the  joy  that  the  news  of  their  victories 
must  create,  they  took  care  to  conceal  the  losses  they  had 
sustained  ;*  but  they  must  have  made  thom  apparent  by  call- 
ing new  warriors  to  their  aid.  They  solicited  by  prayers, 
and  even  by  threats,  the  immediate  departure  of  all  who  had 
assumed  the  cross,  and  yet  still  remained  in  the  "West. 

The  Crusaders  sent  at  the  same  time  an  embassy  to  Con- 
stantinople, composed  of  Hugh,  count  of  Yermandois,  and 
Baldwin,  count  of  Hainault.  The  object  of  this  embassy 
was  to  remind  the  emperor  Alexius  of  the  promise  he  had 
made  to  accompany  tlie  Christians  with  an  army  to  Jeru- 
salem. The  coimt  of  Hainault  perished,  with  all  his  train, 
in  Asia  Minor.  The  count  of  Vermandois,  who  took  a 
different  route,  arrived  safely  at  Constantinople ;  but  could 
obtain  nothing  from  Alexius.  Hereupon,  whether  he  was 
ashamed  of  having  failed  in  his  mission,  or  whether  he 
feared  to  rejoin  an  army  in  which  he  could  not  maintain 
the  splendour  of  his  rank,  he  determined  to  return  to 
Europe,  where  his  desertion  caused  him  to  be  compared  to 
the  raven  of  the  ark.f 

Some  days  after  the  battle  of  Antioch,  the  greater  part  of 
the  pilgrims  entreated  the  leaders  to  conduct  them  towards 
the  Holy  City,  the  pruicipal  object  of  their  expedition.  The 
council  of  the  princes   and   barons   being   assembled,  the 

*  The  leaders  of  the  Crusades  declared  that  the  siege  and  the  battle  of 
Antioch  had  scarcely  cost  them  tea  thousand  men. 

•f-  Corvini  generis  legatus,  postea  non  rediit. — Bald.  lib.  iv. 


178  HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

opinions  Trere  at  first  divided.  Some  of  the  leaders  thought 
that  thev  ought  to  take  advantage  of  the  terror  which  the 
\ictory  of  Antioch  had  created  in  the  Saracens.  "  Both  the 
East  and  the  AVest,"  said  they,  "  have  their  eves  upon  us  ; 
Christ  calls  us  to  the  deliverance  of  his  tomb  ;  the  Christians 
who  still  gi'oan  in  the  chains  of  the  infidels  implore  the 
assistance  of  oiu?  arms  ;  we  have  seen  the  emir  of  Jerusalem, 
and  the  soldiers  who  ought  to  defend  the  approach  to  the 
Holy  Sepulchre,  fly  before  us  ;  all  the  routes  are  open  to  us ; 
let  us  hasten  then  to  comply  with  the  impatience  of  the 
Cnisaders,  an  impatience  which  was  always  so  fatal  to  otK^ 
enemies ;  let  us  depart  from  an  abode  whose  pleasures  have 
several  times  corrupted  the  soldiers  of  Christ ;  let  us  not 
wait  till  discord  shall  disturb  our  peace  and  rob  us  of  the 
fruits  of  our  labours." 

This  ad"\'ice  seemed  to  be  dictated  by  wisdom  and  pru- 
dence, but  the  majonty  of  the  leaders  were  full  of  blind 
security ;  they  could  not  resolve  stiU  to  di-ead  enemies  they 
had  so  often  conquered,  and  the  hopes  of  extending  their 
conquests  in  Syria  made  them  forget  Jerusalem.  Specious 
reasons  were  not  wanting  wherewith  to  combat  the  opinions 
they  had  heard.  The  Christian  army  was  deficient  in  horses; 
it  was  exhausted  by  fatigue,  by  long  miseries,  and  even  by 
its  own  victories.  As  it  was  now  the  height  of  summer, 
though  the  Crusaders  might  have  no  enemies,  they  had  to 
dread  during  a  long  march  the  want  of  water,  and  the  heat 
of  both  the  season  and  the  climate.  It  was  well  known 
that  new  wariiors  from  the  "West  were  expected  in  Asia, 
and  prudence  commanded  them  to  wait  for  them.  By  the 
beginning  of  winter  everything  would  be  prepared  for  the 
conquest  of  Jerusalem,  and  the  united  Crusaders  would  then 
march  without  obstacles  or  dangers  towards  Palestine.  This 
opinion  obtained  a  majority  of  the  sufirages. 

The  Crusaders  had  soon  cause  to  repent  of  their  determi- 
nation. An  epidemic  disease  made  fearfid  ravages  in  their 
armv.  Xothinir  was  to  be  seen  in  Antioch,  savs  an  ancient 
chronicle,  but  buryings  and  funerals,  and  death  there 
reigned,  neither  more  nor  less,  than  in  some  gi-eat  battle 
or  defeat.  Most  of  the  women  and  the  poor  who  followed 
the  army  were  the  first  victims  to  this  calamity.  A  great 
number  of  Crusaders  who  came  from  Grermany  and  other 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  179 

parts  of  Europe  met  with  death  immediately  on  their  arrival 
at  Antioch.  Within  one  month,  more  than  fifty  thousand 
pilgrims  perished  by  this  epidemic*  The  Christians  had  to 
regret  among  their  leaders  Henry  d'Asques,  Eenaud  d'Amer- 
bach,  and  several  other  knights  renowned  for  their  exploits. 
In  the  midst  of  the  general  mourning,  the  bishop  of  Puy, 
who  comforted  the  Crusaders  in  their  misery,  himself  gave 
way  under  his  fatigue  and  died,t  lihe  the  leader  of  the 
Hebrews,  without  having  seen  the  promised  land.  His  re- 
mains were  buried  in  the  church  of  St.  Peter  of  Antioch,  in 
the  very  spot  where  the  miraculous  lance  had  been  disco- 
vered. All  the  pilgrims,  whose  spiritual  father  he  had  been, 
honoured  his  funeral  with  their  presence  and  their  tears. 
The  leaders,  who  sincerely  regretted  him,  wrote  to  the  pope 
to  inform  him  of  the  death  of  his  apostolic  legate.  They  at 
the  same  time  solicited  Urban  to  come  and  place  himself  at 
their  head,  to  sanctify  the  standards  of  the  crusade,  and  to 
promote  union  and  peace  in  the  army  of  Jesus  Christ. 

But  neither  the  respect  they  entertained  for  the  memory 
of  Adhemar,  nor  the  spectacle  of  the  scourge  which  was 
devourins:  the  Christian  armv,  could  close  their  hearts 
against  ambition  and  discord.  The  count  of  Thoulouse, 
who  still  maintained  his  claims  to  the  possession  of  Antioch, 
refused  to  deliver  up  to  Bohemond  the  citadel  of  which  ho 
had  become  master  on  the  day  the  Christians  had  defeated 
the  army  of  Kerbogha.  These  two  haughty  rivals  were 
several  times  on  the  point  of  coming  to  blows,  Eaymond 
accusing  the  new  prince  of  Antioch  of  ha\T.ng  usurped  that 
which  belonged  to  his  companions,  whilst  Bohemond  threat- 
ened to  bathe  his  sword,  red  with  the  blood  of  infidels,  in 
blood  which  he  said  he  had  too  long  spared.  One  day  that 
the  princes  and  leaders  were  assembled  in  the  basilica  of  the 
church  of  St.  Peter,  engaged  in  regulating  the  affairs  of  the 
crusade,    their    deliberations  were  disturbed   by  the    most 

*  Albert  d'Aix  &ays  a  hundred  thousand.  ^ 

f  Tasso  makes  Adhemar  die  at  the  siege  of  Jerusalem,  and  makes  him 
die  by  the  hands  of  a  woman.  Some  historians  attribute  the  canticle 
"  Salve  Regina  "  to  Bishop  Adhemar.  The  bishops  of  Pily,  his  succes- 
sors, bear  in  their  coat  of  arms  the  sword  on  one  side  and  the  pastoral 
staff  on  the  other.  It  is  added  that  the  canons  of  the  same  city  wore 
every  year,  at  Easter,  a  cloak  in  the  form  of  a  cuirass. 


ISO  IIISTOET    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

violent  quarrels.  IS'otwitlistanding  the  sanctity  of  the  place, 
Eavmond,  in  the  midst  of  the  council,  gave  way  to  his  pas- 
sion and  resentment.  Even  at  the  foot  of  the  altar  of  Christ, 
Bohemond  hesitated  not  to  make  false  promises  in  order  to 
draw  the  other  chiefs  to  his  party,  and  repeated  several 
times  an  oath  which  he  never  meant  to  keep,  that  of  follow- 
ing them  to  Jerusalem. 

Every  day  trouble  and  disorder  increased  in  the  Christian 
armv,  some  only  thinking  of  aggrandising  the  states  which 
victorv  had  given  them,  whilst  others  wandered  about  S>Tia 
in  search  of  cities  over  which  they  might  unfurl  their  stan- 
dards. Bands  were  seen  dispersed  in  all  parts  where  there 
was  a  chance  of  a  rich  booty,  fighting  among  themselves  for 
their  conquests  when  they  Avere  victorious,  and  a  prey  to  all 
sorts  of  horrors  and  miseries  when  they  met  with  unfore- 
seen resistance.  The  jealousy  which  prevailed  among  the 
chiefs  extended  to  the  soldiers  :  the  latter  quarrelling  for  the 
bootv  gained  from  the  enemy,  in  the  same  manner  that  the 
princes  and  barons  contended  for  the  possession  of  cities 
and  proA-inces.  Those  whom  fortune  had  not  favoured  com- 
plained of  their  companions,  until  some  lucky  chance  allowed 
tliem  in  their  turn  to  take  advantage  of  all  the  rights  of  vic- 
torv. On  all  sides  the  Crusaders  accused  each  other  reci- 
procallv  of  ha^-ing  enriched  themselves  by  injustice  and 
violence,  althou2:h  evervbodv  envied  the  most  eruiltv. 

And  yet,  amidst  their  conflicts  or  their  misfortunes,  the 
Christians  continued  to  show  the  most  heroic  bravery  and 
resignation ;  they  endured  hunger,  thirst,  and  fatigue  with- 
out a  complaint,  and  neither  destTts,  rivers,  precipices,  the 
heat  of  the  climate,  nor  any  other  obstacle,  could  stop  them 
in  their  incursions.  In  every  kind  of  peril  they  sought  all 
opportunities  of  proving  their  strength  and  skill,  or  of  sig- 
naliziuir  their  valour.  Sometimes  in  the  forests  or  moun- 
tains  they  encountered  savage  animals.  A  French  knight, 
named  Gruicher.  rendered  himself  celebrated  in  the  armv  bv 
overcomii^  a  lion.  Another  knight,  Geoffrey  de  la  Tour, 
gained  great  renown  by  an  action  which  doubtless  will 
appear  incredible.  He  one  day  saw  in  a  forest  a  lion  which 
a  serpent  held  within  its  monstrous  folds,  and  which  made 
the  air  resound  with  his  roaring.  G-eoffrev  flew  to  the 
assistance  of  the  animal,  which  appeared  to  implore  his  pity, 


HISTOEY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  181 

and  witli  one  LIoay  of  his  sAvord  killed  the  serpent,  "which  was 
intent  upon  its  prey.  If  Ave  may  believe  an  old  chronicle, 
the  lion  thus  delivered  attached  himself  to  his  liberator  as 
to  a  master ;  he  accompanied  him  during  tlie  war,  and  when, 
after  the  taking  of  Jerusalem,  the  Crusaders  embarked  to 
return  into  Europe,  he  was  drowned  in  the  sea  whilst  fol- 
lowing the  vessel  in  which  Greoftrey  was.* 

Several  Crusaders, .whilst  waiting  for  the  signal  of  de- 
])arture  for  Jerusalem,  went  to  visit  their  brethren  who  had 
established  themselves  in  the  conquered  cities.  Many  of 
them  repaired  to  Baldwin,  and  joined  with  him  in  contending 
against  the  Saracens  of  Meso}X)tamia.  A  knight,  named 
Foulqiie,  who  went  with  several  of  his  companions  to  seek 
adventures  on  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates,  was  surprised 
and  massacred  by  the  Turks.  His  wife,  whom  he  had  taken 
with  Ijim,  was  brought  before  the  emir  of  Hazart  or  Hezas. 
Being  of  rare  beauty,  one  of  the  principal  officers  of  the 
emir  fell  in  love  with  her,t  and  asked  her  of  his  master  in 
marriage,  who  yielded  her  to  him,  and  permitted  him  to 
espouse  her.  This  officer,  deeply  in  love  with  a  Christian 
woman,  avoided  all  occasions  of  fighting  against  the  Crusa- 
ders, and  yet,  zealous  in  the  service  of  his  master  the  emir, 
made  incursions  into  the  territories  of  the  sultan  of  Aleppo. 
1-iedowan,  wishing  to  avenge  himself,  marched  with  an  army 
of  forty  thousand  men  to  attack  the  cit}^  of  Hezas.  Then 
the  officer  wlio  had  married  the  widow  of  Eoulque  advised 
the  emir  to  implore  the  assistance  of  the  Christians. 

*  This  anecdote,  which  is  here  quoted  without  giving  it  any  more  im- 
portance tlian  it  merits,  is  related  in  the  Magnum  Chronicon  Belgicum, 
which  is  found  in  the  collection  of  the  historians  of  Germany  of  Pistorius. 
Tl'e  author  says  the  lion  followed  Geoffrey  like  a  hare : — Eum  sequitur, 
sicut  lepus  ;  et  quamdiu  fuit  in  terra,  nunquam  recedens,  multa  ei  com- 
mocla  contulit  tam  in  venationibus  quam  in  hello  ;  qui  carnes  venaticas 
abundanter  dabat.  Leo  verb  qusecunque  domino  suo  adversari  videbat, 
l)rosternabar,  quern,  ut  dicunt,  in  navi  positum  ciim  domum  rediret, 
derelinquere  noluit,  sed  nolentibus  eum,  ut  crudele  animal,  in  navem 
recipere  nautis,  secutus  est  doniinum  suum,  natando  per  mare,  usque  quo 
labore  deficit. 

Tiie  same  fact  is  related  by  le  Pere  Maimbourg,  who  adds  to  his  recital 
this  singular  reflection.  "  Strange  instruction  of  nature,  which  casts 
shame  U])on  men  by  giving  them,  as  she  has  done  more  than  once,  lions 
for  masters." 

t  Albert  d' Aixis  the  only  historian  who  relates  this  and  the  following  facts. 


182  HISTOEY    or    THE    CEUS.U)ES. 

Tlie  emir  proposed  an  alliance  to  Godfrey  de  Bouillon. 
Godfrey  at  first  hesitated,  but  the  Mussulman  returned  to 
the  charge,  and  to  disperse  all  the  suspicions  of  the  Chris- 
tian princes,  sent  them  his  son  Mahomet  as  an  hostage.  The 
treaty  ^as  then  signed,  and  two  pigeons,  says  a  Latin  his- 
torian, charged  \\"ith  a  letter,  brought  the  news  to  the  emir, 
at  the  same  time  announcins^  to  him  the  early  arriyal  of  the 
Clmstians.*  The  army  of  the  sultan  of  Aleppo  was  beaten 
in  seyeral  encounters  by  Godfrey,  and  forced  to  abandon  the 
territory  of  Hezas,  that  it  had  begun  to  pillage.  A  short 
time  after  this  expedition  the  son  of  the  emir  died  at 
Antioch  of  the  epidemic  so  fatal  to  the  pilgrims  of  the  West. 
Godfrey,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  Mussulmans,  had 
the  body  of  the  young  prince  enyeloped  in  rich  purple  stuff, 
and  sent  it  to  his  father.  The  deputies  who  accompanied 
this  funeral  conyoy  were  ordered  to  express  to  the  emir  the 
regrets  of  Godfrey,  and  to  tell  him  that  their  leader  had 
been  as  much  afflicted  by  the  death  of  the  young  prince 
Mahomet,  as  he  could  haye  been  by  that  of  his  brother 
Baldwin.  The  emir  of  Hezas  wept  for  the  death  of  his  son, 
and  neyer  ceased  to  be  the  faithful  ally  of  the  Christians. 

The  leaders  of  the  crusades  s'till  thought  no  more  about 
setting  forward  on  their  march  to  Jerusalem,  and  the 
autumn  adyanced  without  their  being  engaged  in  any  expe- 
dition of  importance.  In  the  midst  of  the  idleness  of  the 
camps,  a  celestial  phenomenon  offered  itself  to  the  eyes  of 
the  Crusaders,  and  made  a  liyely  impression  upon  the  minds 

*  Some  learned  writers  cannot  trace  messages  by  pigeons  further  back 
than  the  reign  of  Saladia.  It  is  true  that  it  was  in  the  reigns  of  Nouradin 
and  Saladin  that  regular  posts,  served  by  pigeons,  were  organized  iu 
Egypt  ;  but  this  means  of  communication  was  very  ancient  in  the  East. 
^  The  recital  of  Albert  d' Aix  cannot  be  doubted.  The  historian  speaks  of 
the  surprise  that  this  sort  of  messengers  produce-d  among  the  Crusaders; 
and  as  the  fact  appeared  remarkable  to  him,  he  has  not  neglected  the 
smallest  details  of  it : — Legati  sine  mora  columbas  duas,  aves  gratas  et 
domitas,  secum  allatas  eduxerunt  e  sinu  suo,  ac  charta,  ducis  responsis 
proniissisque  fidelibus  in^cripta,  caudis  illarum  filo  innodata,  e  manibus 
suis  has  ad  ferenda  lee'a  nuucia  emiserunt. .  .  .Jam  cum  chartis  sibi  com- 
missis  aves  ailvolaverunt,  in  solium  et  mensara  duels  Hasart  fideliter 
revers88.  .  .  .Piinrei's  autem  ex  more  solito  aves  doir.esticaspie  suscipiens, 
chartas  intitulatas  a  caudis  earum  solvit,  secreta  ducis  Godfredi  perlegit. 
\S'e  shall  see  in  the  fourth  book  of  this  history  another  example  of  this 
means  of  communication  employed  by  the  Saracens. 


HISTORY    or    THE    CEtJSADES.  183 

of  the  multitude.  The  soldiers  who  guarded  the  ramparts 
of  Antioch  saw  during  the  night  a  luminous  mass,  which 
appeared  to  be  fixed  in  an  elevated  point  of  the  heavens.  It 
seemed  as  if  all  the  stars,  according  to  the  expression  of 
Albert  d'Aix,  Avere  united  in  a  space  scarcely  more  extensive 
than  a  garden  of  three  acres.  "  These  stars,"  says  the  same 
historian,  "  shed  the  most  brilliant  light,*  and  shone  like 
coals  in  a  furnace y  They  appeared  for  a  long  time  as  if 
suspended  over  the  city  of  Antioch ;  but  the  circle  which 
seemed  to  contain  them  being  broken,  they  dispersed  in  the 
air.  At  the  sight  of  this  prodigy,  the  guards  and  sentinels 
uttered  loud  cries,  and  ran  to  awaken  the  citizens  of  Antioch. 
All  the  pilgrims  issued  from  their  houses,  and  found  in  this 
phenomenon  a  manifest  sign  of  the  will  of  Heaven.  Some 
believed  they  saw  in  the  united  stars  an  image  of  the  Sara- 
cens, who  were  assembled  at  Jerusalem,  and  who  would  be 
dispersed  at  the  approach  of  the  Christians  ;  others,  equally 
full  of  hope,  saw  in  them  the  Christian  warriors  uniting 
their  victorious  forces,  and  then  spreading  themselves  over 
the  earth  to  conquer  the  cities  ravished  from  the  empire  of 
Christ ;  but  many  of  the  pilgrims  did  not  abandon  them- 
selves to  these  consolatory  illusions.  In  a  city  where  the 
people  had  much  to  suffer,  and  had  dwelt  during  many 
months  amidst  death  and  its  funeral  rites,  the  future  natu- 
rally presented  itself  under  the  most  sad  and  disheartening 
colours.  All  who  suffered,  and  had  lost  the  hope  of  ever  seeing 
Jerusalem,  saw  nothing  in  the  phenomenon  presented  to 
their  eyes  but  an  alarming  symbol  of  the  multitude  of  pil- 
grims, which  was  every  day  diminishing,  and  which  promised 
soon  to  be  entirely  dispersed,  like  the  luminous  clouds  which 
they  had  seen  in  the  heavens.  "  Things,  however,"  says 
Albert  d'Aix,  "  turned  out  much  better  than  was  expected  ; 
for,  a  short  time  afterwards,  the  princes,  on  their  return  to 
Antioch,  took  the  field,  and  brought  under  their  dominion 
several  cities  of  Upper  Syria." 

The  most  important  of  their  expeditions  was  the  siege 
and  capture  of  Maarah,  situated  between  Hamath  and 
Aleppo.     Raymond  was  the  first  to  sit  himself  down  before 

*  Globes  of  fire,  or  ignited  globes,  as  naturalists  call  them,  might  have 
produced  this  appearance. 


184  HISTOET   or   THE    CEUSADES. 

this  cit\',  where  he  was  soou  joined  by  the  duke  of  Kor- 
mandv  and  the  count  of  Flanders  and  their  troops.  The 
Christians  met  with  the  most  obstinate  resistance  from  the 
besies:ed  during  several  days.  The  infidels  poured  arrows 
and  stones  upon  them  m  clouds,  together  with  floods  of  an 
inflammable  matter,  which  several  historians  pretend  to  have 
been  the  Greek  fii-e.  "VTiiliam  of  Tyre  says  that  they  hurled 
from  the  summits  of  the  towers  upon  the  assailants  quick 
lime  and  hives  filled  with  bees.*  Want  of  provisions  soon 
began  to  be  felt,  and  the  Crusaders  at  length  experienced 
such  distress,  that  many  among  them  subsisted  upon  the 
dead  bodies  of  their  enemies.t  Historv  ousjht,  however,  to 
relate  with  hesitation  the  extremes  to  which  famine  is  said 
to  have  carried  them,  and  to  throw  great  doubt  upon  the 
account  of  the  public  sale  of  human  flesh  in  the  camp  of 
the  Christians.;]: 

The  Crusaders  endured  all  their  misfortunes  with  patience, 
but  thev  could  not  support  the  outrages  committed  by  the 
inhabitants  of  Maarah  upon  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ. 
The  infidels  raised  crosses  upon  the  ramparts,  covered 
them  with  ordure,  and  heaped  all  sorts  of  insults  upon  them. 
Tliis  sis:ht  so  irritated  the  Christians,  that  thev  resolved  to 
redouble  their  eftbrts  to  get  possession  of  the  city.  They 
constructed  machines  which  shook  the  walls,  whilst  the 
soldiers  moimted  to  the  assault ;  and  they  succeeded,  after 
a  lengthened  resistance,  in  making  themselves  masters  of  the 

*  Lapides.  iCTiem,  et  plena  apibus  alvearia,  cclcem  quoque  vivam, 
quanti  poterant  jaculabantur  instantia,  ut  eos  a  muro  propellereiit. — 
Will.  Tyr.  lib.  vi'i.  cap.  9. 

t  Audivi  namque.  qui  dicereut  cibi  se  coactos  inopia  ad  humante 
carnis  edulium  transiisse,  adultos  gentiliutn  cacabo  immersisse,  pueros 
iufixisse  verubus,  et  vorasse  adu<tos;  vorando  cemulati  sunt  feras,  torrendo 
homines,  sed  caninos.  Hunc  ipsum  fir.em  membris  propriis  minabautur, 
cum  aliena  deficerent ;  nisi  aut  captse  urbis,  aut  ceteris  advenss  intercessio 
esuriem  Irnisset. — Rad.  Cadom.  cap.  27.  We  cannot  forbear  adding  to 
this  quotation  the  words  of  Albert  d'Aix,  who  is  astonished  to  see  Chris- 
tians eat  the  bodies  of  Mussulmans,  but  still  more  so  at  seeing  them 
devour  dogs.  Mirabile  dictu  et  auribus  horrendum,  quod  nefas  est 
dicere,  nefas  facere.  Nam  Christiani  non  solum  Turcos  sed  Sarracenos 
occisos,  verum  etiam  canes  arreptos  et  igni  coctos  comedere  nonabhorrue- 
runt  prae  inopia,  quam  audistis. — Ab.  Ag.  lib.  v.  cap.  29. 

1^  This  circumstance  is  related  by  Mailly,  but  he  does  not  say  upon 
what  authority. 


HISTOKY    or    THE    CllUSADES.  185 

towers  and  tlie  ramparts.  As  they  were  overtaken  by  night 
in  the  midst  of  their  victory,  they  did  not  venture  to  pene- 
trate into  the  place ;  and  when,  with  the  break  of  day,  they 
spread  themselves  through  the  streets,  not  a  sound  was  to 
be  heard, — every  part  of  the  city  was  deserted.  The  army 
pillaged  the  uninhabited  houses,  but  soon  discovered,  to 
their  great  surprise,  that  the  whole  population  of  Maarah 
had  taken  refuge  in  subterranean  places.  A  large  quantity 
of  straw,  set  on  fire  at  the  mouths  of  the  caverns  in  which 
the  infidels  were  concealed,  soon  forced  them  to  issue  from 
their  retreats,  and  such  was  the  animosity  of  the  conquerors, 
that  the  bewildered  and  trembling  multitude  implored  their 
pity  in  vain.  All  the  inhabitants  of  Maarah  were  either 
put  to  the  sword  or  led  into  slavery  ;  the  city  was  completely 
razed  to  the  ground,  "  which  so  terrified  the  neighbouring 
cities,"  says  an  historian,  "that  of  their  own  free  will,  and 
without  force,  they  surrendered  to  the  Crusaders." 

This  conquest  became  the  subject  of  fresh  discord.  Bohe- 
mond,  who  had  come  to  the  siege,  was  desirous  of  keeping 
a  portion  of  the  city,  wlnlst  Raymond  pretended  to  reign 
over  Maarah  as  its  sovereign.  The  debate  grew  warm  ;  the 
camp  of  the  Christians  was  filled  with  confusion  and  fac- 
tions, and  the  Crusaders  were  very  near  shedding  their  own 
blood  to  ascertain  who  should  be  master  of  a  city  which  they 
had  just  entirely  deprived  of  inhabitants,  and  given  up  to 
pillage.  "  But  God,  who  was  the  leader  of  this  great  enter- 
prise," says  le  Pere  Maimbourg,  "  repaired  by  the  zeal  of 
the  weak  and  the  lowly  that  which  the  passions  of  the  great 
and  the  wise  of  this  world  had  destroyed."  The  soldiers 
at  length  became  indignant  at  the  thoughts  of  shedding,  for 
miserable  quarrels,  the  blood  which  they  had  sworn  to  de- 
dicate to  a  sacred  cause.  AVhilst  they  M^ere  most  loud  in 
their  complaints  and  murmurs,  the  report  reached  them  that 
Jerusalem  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Egyptians :  they 
had  taken  advantage  of  the  defeat  of  the  Turks,  and  of  the 
unfortunate  delay  of  the  Christian  army  in  their  invasion  of 
Palestine.  This  news  redoubled  the  discontent  of  the  Cru- 
saders, and  they  loudly  accused  Raymond  and  their  other 
leaders  of  having  betrayed  the  cause  of  Grod.  They  an- 
nounced their  intention  of  choosing  fresli  leaders,  who 
should  have  no  other  ambition  but  that  of  accomplishing 


186  HISTOET    OF    THE    CEUS.U)ES. 

their  vows,  and  would  conduct  the  Christian  army  to  the 
Holy  Land. 

The  coimt  of  St.  Gilles  and  the  prince  of  Antioch,  the  latter 
of  whom  was,  perhaps,  no  stranger  to  the  general  movement, 
went  through  the  ranks,  and  addressed  the  soldiers,  the  one 
upon  the  necessity  of  obedience,  the  other  upon  the  glory 
which  awaited  them  at  Jerusalem.  The  tumult  soon  became 
more  violent.  The  clergy  menaced  B.aymond  with  the  anger 
of  Heaven,  whilst  his  soldiers  threatened  to  abandon  his  stan- 
dard. The  Proven9als  themselves  at  length  refused  to  obey 
the  inflexible  coimt  of  Thoulouse,  and  the  army  set  seriously 
to  work  to  demolish  the  ramparts  of  Maarah,  the  possession 
of  which  was  the  object  of  contention. 

"Whilst  this  was  going  on,  Tancred  had,  by  either  force  or 
address,  got  possession  of  the  citadel  of  Antioch,  and  planted 
the  standard  of  Bohemond  in  place  of  that  of  the  count  of 
St.  Gilles.  Eavmond,  thus  left  alone,  and  without  any  hopes 
of  realizing  his  pretensions,  was  obliged  to  yield  to  the 
wishes  of  the  army,  and  appeared  to  listen  to  the  voice 
of  God.  After  havinor  set  fire  to  the  citv  of  Maarah,  he 
marched  out  of  it  by  the  light  of  the  flames,  barefooted,  and 
shedding  tears  of  repentance.  Followed  by  the  clergy,  who 
sang  the  psalms  of  penitence,  he  abjured  his  ambition,  and 
renewed  the  oath  he  had  so  often  made,  and  so  often  for- 
gotten, of  delivering  the  tomb  of  Jesus  Christ. 


BOOK    IV. 


A.D.  1099—1103. 

MoEE  than  six  months  had  passed  away  since  the  taking 
of  Antioch,  and  several  of  the  leaders  of  the  crusade  still 
thought  nothing  of  commencing  their  march  to  Jerusalem. 
As  soon  as  Raymond  gave  the  signal  for  departure,  his  sol- 
diers, and  the  knights  who  accompanied  him,  broke  into  loud 
demonstrations  of  joy  and  a  revived  enthusiasm.  The  count 
of  Thoulouse  was  followed  by  Tancred  and  the  duke  of  Nor- 
mandy, who  were  both  impatient  to  accomplish  their  vow 
and  conquer  Palestine.  Conducted  by  these  three  leaders, 
a  great  part  of  the  Christian  army  traversed  the  territories 
of  Csesarea  in  Syria,  Hamath,  and  Edessa.  From  aU  parts 
both  Christians  and  Mussulmans  came  eagerly  to  meet  them, 
the  former  to  beg  their  assistance,  the  latter  to  implore  their 
clemency.  Many  emirs  came  to  conjure  Raymond  to  plant 
his  standard  on  their  cities'  walls,  to  protect  them  from 
pillage,  and  render  them  safe  from  the  enterprises  of  the 
other  Crusaders.  The  pilgrims  everywhere  on  their  passage 
received  provisions  and  rich  tributes  without  the  trouble 
and  risk  of  fighting  for  them.  In  the  course  of  their  tri- 
umphant march,  the  sweetest  fruit  of  their  labours  and  the 
terror  that  their  arms  inspired  was  the  return  of  a  vast 
number  of  Christian  prisoners,  whose  death  they  had 
mouTDed,  who  were  sent  to  them  from  the  neighbouring 
cities  by  the  Mussidman  chiefs. 

They  drew  near  to  the  sea-coast,  and  advanced,  almost 
trithout  obstacle,  as  far  as  the  vicinity  of  Archas.  This  city 
was  situated  at  the  foot  of  Libanus,  two  leagues  from  the 
sea,  in  a  territor}^  covered  with  olive-trees,  and  rich  with 
corn.  The  count  of  Thoulouse,  either  from  a  desire  to 
conquer  so  rich  a  country,  or  from  being  provoked  by  the 
insults   and   threats   of  the   infidels,   resolved  to   besiege 

Vol,  L— 10 


1S8  HisroKY  or  the  ckusades. 

Archas  *  In  order  to  inflame  the  courage  of  his  soldiers, 
and  associate  them  with  him  in  his  project,  he  promised 
them  as  a  reward  for  their  labours,  the  pillage  of  the  city 
and  the  deliverance  of  two  hundred  Christian  prisoners 
confined  in  the  citadel. 

In  the  mean  time  Grodfrey,  Eustace,  and  Eobert,  count  of 
Flanders,  had  not  yet  set  out  from  Antioch.  They  did  not 
begin  their  march* before  the  early  days  of  spring.  Bohe- 
mond  accompanied  them  as  far  as  Laodicea,t  and  then 
returned  to  his  capital,  after  ha\-ing  promised  his  compa- 
nions to  rejoin  them  before  Jerusalem.  At  Laodicea  the 
Crusaders  liberated  the  llemish  pirates  who  had  taken  the 
cross  at  Tarsus,  and  who,  for  more  than  a  year,  had  been 
detained  prisoners  by  the  Greeks,  the  masters  of  that  city. 
At  the  same  place  the  Christian  army  received  a  reinforce- 
ment of  new  Crusaders  from  the  ports  of  Holland  and 
Flanders,  and  the  British  isles.  Among  these  new  de- 
fenders of  the  cross  was  Edgar  Athelmg,  who,  after  the 
death  of  Harold,  had  disputed  the  crown  of  England  with 
William  the  Conqueror.  He  came  to  endeavour  to  forget 
the  misfortunes  of  his  country  under  the  banners  of  the 
holy  war,  and  at  the  same  time  to  seek  a  refuge  from  the 
tvranny  of  the  conqueror.  The  English  and  the  new  Cru- 
saders from  other  countries  were  received  with  great  joy 
into  the  ranks  of  the  Christian  army,  which,  however, 
pursued  its  march  towards  Palestine  very  slowly. 

It  grieved  the  greater  part  of  the  leaders  to  be  obhged 
to  traverse  such  rich  provinces  without  establishing  their 
domination  in  them.  There  was  not  a  city  in  their  route 
upon  the  walls  of  which  one  of  them  had  not  a  strong 
secret  inclination  to  plant  his  standard.  These  pretensions 
gave  birth  to  rivalries  which  weakened  the  army,  and  pre- 
vented it  from  making  useful  conquests.     Baymond  still 

*  Archas  is  mentioned  by  Strabo,  Ptolemy,  Josephus,  and  the  Itine- 
rary of  Antonine,  \shich  latter  places  this  city  at  sixteen  miles  from 
Tripoli.  Pococke  (torn.  ii.  p.  299)  and  Maundrell  (vol.  i.  p.  41)  speak  of 
a  river  which  still  bears  this  name.  Abulfeda  speaks  of  it  under  the  name 
of  Aarkat.  The  Itinerary  fiom  Bordeaux  to  Jerusalem  also  mentions 
Archas. 

t  Laodicea  still  exists  under  the  name  of  Lakikieh.  It  has  been  long 
famous  for  its  trade  in  tobacco. 


HISTOKT    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  189 

obstinately  prosecuted  the  siege  of  Archas,  whicli  opposed 
to  him  the  firmest  resistance,  Godfrey  went  to  lay  siege 
to  Gribel  or  Gibelet,*  a  maritime  city,  situated  some  leagues 
from  Laodicea.  The  leaders  of  the  army  never  consented 
to  unite  their  efforts  against  the  Saracens,  but  sold  to  the 
emirs,  b}^  turns,  their  inaction  and  their  neutrality. 

The  only  expedition  in  wliich  success  cro\^Tied  their  bra- 
very was  the  attack  of  Tortosa.f  Raymond,  viscount  do 
Turenne,  the  viscount  de  Castellane,  the  seigneur  d'Albret, 
and  some  others  of  the  principal  leaders  of  the  Grascons  and 
Proven9als,  with  a  hundred  horse  and  two  hundred  foot, 
presented  themselves  before  this  city.  The  inhabitants 
closed  their  gates,  manned  their  ramparts,  and  forced  the 
Christians  to  retreat.  The  leader  of  this  expedition,  Eay- 
mond  de  Turenne,  who  had  not  a  sufficient  number  of  troops 
to  undertake  a  siege  or  force  a  city  to  surrender,  had  recourse 
to  a  stratagem,  which  succeeded.  At  night  he  caused  to  be 
lighted  in  a  neighbouring  wood  such  a  number  of  fires,  that 
the  inhabitants  of  Tortosa  were  persuaded  that  the  whole 
Christian  aimy  was  come  to  attack  them,  and  before  the 
break  of  day  they  all  fled  to  the  mountains,  taking  with 
them  their  most  valuable  effects.  On  the  morrow  the 
Christians  approached  the  city,  the  ramparts  of  which  they 
found  deserted,  and  entered  it  without  resistance.  After 
having  pilbged  the  houses,  and  given  up  to  the  flames  a  city 
they  could  not  keep,  they  returned  to  the  camp  loaded  with 
booty.  * 

The  Mussulmans  shut  up  in  Archas  still  held  out  against 
the  Christians.  Although  the  army  was  encamped  in  a 
fertile  country,  they  soon  began  to  experience  the  want  of 
provisions.  The  poorest  of  the  pilgrims  were  reduced,  as  at 
Antioch,  to  feed  upon  roots,  and  dispute  with  animals  the 
leaves  of  the  trees  and  the  grass  of  the  fields.  The  nume- 
rous clergy  which  followed  the  army  sunk  into  the  deepest 
distress.     Such  as  could  fight  went  to  ravaoje  the  surroundinef 

*  Gibel.  This  word  signifies  mountain,  in  Arabic.  Gibel  is  the 
Gabala  of  Strabo  and  Hiny  ;  the  Gavala  of  the  table  of  Peutinger.  It 
still  subsists  under  its  ancient  name  of  Djebil,  and  the  remains  of  an  am- 
phitheatre are  still  to  be  seen  there.  It  is,  I  beliere,  the  Giblim  of  the 
Bible,  whence  was  embarked  the  wood  of  Lebanon  sent  to  Solomon. 

f  Tortosa  is  the  Antaradua  of  Ptolemy  and  the  Itinerary  of  Bordeaux. 


190  HISTOEY    OF    Til£    CPa'SAJD£S. 

country,  and  lived  on  pillage  ;  but  those  whom  age,  sex,  or 
mfirmities  would  not  permit  to  cany  arms,  had  no  hope  but 
in  the  charitv  of  the  Christian  soldiers.  The  army  freelv 
assisted  them,  and  gave  up  to  them  the  tenth  part  of  the 
booty  obtained  from  the  infidels. 

A  great  number  of  the  Crusaders  ^-ielded  to  the  fatigues 
of  the  siege,  and  perished  M-ith  misery  and  disease,  whilst 
many  fell  by  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  who  defended  them- 
selves with  obstinate  valour.  Among  those  whose  loss  was 
most  regretted,  histoiy  has  preserved  the  name  of  Pons  de 
Balasu :  he  was  his^hlv  esteemed  in  the  army  for  his  intel- 
hgence,  and  up  to  his  death  had  written  the  history  of  the 
crusade,  in  conjunction  with  ^Raymond  d'Agiles.  The  Cru- 
saders also  irave  their  tears  to  the  memory  of  Anselme  de 
Eibemont,  count  de  Bonchain,  whose  piety  and  courage  are 
much  praised  in  the  chronicles  of  the  tunes.  Contemporary 
authors  relate  his  death  as  attended  Avith  such  wonderful 
circumstances  as  deserve  to  be  preserved,  because  they  aftbrd 
a  strong  idea  of  the  spiiit  which  animated  the  Crusaders. 

One  day  (we  follow  the  relation  of  [Raymond  d'Agiles) 
Anselm  saw  enter  into  his  tent  young  Angelram,  son  of  the 
count  de  St.  Paul,  who  had  been  killed  at  the  siege  of 
Maarah.*  ''  How  is  it,"  said  he,  "  that  I  see  you  still  living 
whom  I  saw  dead  on  the  field  of  battle  r"  "  Know,"  replied 
Anorelram,  '■  that  thev  who  fiirht  for  Jesus  Christ  do  not  die." 
'' But  whence  comes  that  strange  splendour  with  which  I  see 
you  surrounded?"  Then  Angelraia  pointed  out  to  him  in 
the  heavens  a  palace  of  crystal  and  diamonds.  "  It  is 
thence,"  he  added,  "  that  I  derive  the  beauty  which  surprises 
you ;  that  is  my  abode,  and  there  is  a  much  more  beautiful 
one  being  prepared  for  you,  which  you  will  soon  inhabit. 
Farewell ;  we  shall  meet  again  to-morrow."  At  these  words, 
adds  the  historian,  Angeh-am  returned  to  heaven.  Anselm, 
struck  with  this  apparition,  the  next  morning  sent  for  several 
ecclesiastics,  and  received  the  sacraments  ;  and,  although  in 
full  health,  took  leave  of  his  friends,  telling  them  he  was 

*  Raymond  d'Agiles,  before  relating  this  and  several  other  similar 
facts,  expresses  himself  thus  : — Quod  si  quicquam  ^s.o  prseter  credita  et 
visa  studeo  referre,  vel  odio  alicujus  apposui,  apponat  mihi  Deus  omnes 
inferni  plagas,  et  deleat  me  de  libro  vitae.  The  same  fact  is  reported  in 
Raoul  de  Caen. 


niSTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  191 

about  to  quit  the  world  in  wliicli  tney  had  known  him.  A 
few  hours  afterwards,  the  enemy  having  made  a  sortie, 
Ansehn  flew,  sword  in  hand,  to  meet  them,  and  was  struck 
on  the  forehead  by  a  stone,  which,  say  the  historians,  sent 
him  to  the  beautiful  palace  in  heaven  that  was  prepared 
for  hiin.  This  marvellous  recital,  which  was  credited  by  the 
Crusaders,  is  not  the  only  one  of  the  kind  that  history  has 
collected.  It  is  useless  to  remind  our  readers  that  extreme 
misery  always  rendered  the  Crusaders  more  superstitious 
and  credulous.  Although  the  siege  of  Archas  had  no  reli- 
gious aim,  and  even  turned  the  pilgrims  aside  from  the  prin- 
cipal object  of  the  holy  war,  it  was  not  thence  less  abundant, 
according  to  Eaymond  d'Agiles,  in  muacles  and  prodigies  of 
all  sorts.  The  belief  of  the  people  was  frequently  supported 
bv  the  most  enlisfhtened  of  the  leaders,  who  found  it  neces- 
sary  to  warm  the  imaginations  of  the  soldiers  to  preserve 
their  authority.  Every  day  fresh  parties  were  formed  in  the 
Christian  army,  and  the  most  powerful  were  always  those 
who  circulated  a  belief  in  the  greatest  number  of  miracles. 
It  was  during  the  siege  of  Archas  that  doubts  arose  among 
the  pilgrims  about  the  discovery  of  the  lance  which  had  had 
such  an  eflect  upon  the  courage  of  the  Crusaders  at  the 
battle  of  Antioch,  and  the  camp  of  the  besiegers  became  all 
at  once  divided  into  two  great  factions,  strongly  opposed 
to  each  other.  Arnold  de  Eohes,  according  to  William  of 
Tyre,  a  man  of  dissolute  manners,  but  well  versed  in  history 
and  letters,  M-as  the  first  who  dared  openly  to  deny  the  truth 
of  the  prodigy.  This  ecclesiastic,  who  was  chaplain  to  the 
duke  of  Normandy,  drew  into  his  party  all  the  JSTormans  and 
the  Crusaders  from  the  north  of  France  ;  whilst  those  of  the 
south  ranged  themselves  on  the  side  of  Barthelemi,  who  was 
attached  to  the  count  de  St,  Gilles.  The  priest  of  Mar- 
seilles, a  simple  man,  who  himself  believed  that  which  he 
wished  others  to  believe,  had  a  new  revelation,  and  related 
in  the  camp  that  he  had  seen  Jesus  Christ  attached  to  the 
cross,  cursing  the  incredulous,  and  devoting  to  the  death 
and  punishment  of  Judas  the  impious  sceptics  who  dared  to 
search  into  the  mysterious  ways  of  Grod.  This  apparition, 
and  the  menaces  of  Christ,  highly  excited  the  imaginations 
of  the  Proven9als,  who  had  no  less  faith,  according  to  Kay- 
mond  d'Agiles,  in  the  tales   of  Barthelemi,  than  in  the 


192  HISTOnY    OF    TnE    CfiUS.VDES. 

eWdence  of  the  saints  and  apostles.  But  Arnold  was  aston- 
ished that  God  should  only  reveal  himself  to  a  simple  priest, 
whilst  so  many  \'irtuous  prelates  were  in  the  army ;  and, 
witliout  denying  the  intervention  of  the  divine  power,  he 
was  not  ^villing  to  admit  any  other  prodigies  than  those 
performed  by  the  valour  and  heroism  of  the  Christian 
soldiers. 

As  the  produce  of  the  offerings  made  to  the  depositaries 
of  the  holy  lance  were  distributed  to  the  poor,  the  latter, 
who  were  in  vast  numbers  in  the  army,  were  not  sparing  in 
murmurs  against  the  chaplain  of  the  duke  of  Normandy, 
and  they  attributed  to  his  incredidity,  and  that  of  his  par- 
tisans, all  the  evils  that  the  Crusaders  had  suffered  during 
the  siege  of  Archas.  Arnold  and  his  party,  which  increased 
every  day,  on  the  contraiy  attributed  the  misfortunes  of  the 
Christians  to  theh'  divisions,  and  to  the  turbulent  spirit  of  a 
set  of  visionaries.  Amougst  these  debates  the  Crusaders  of 
the  northern  provinces  reproached  those  of  the  south  with 
want  of  bravery  in  fight,  "udth  being  less  anxious  for  glory 
than  pillage,  and  with  passing  their  time  in  ornamenting  their 
horses  and  mules*  The  latter,  on  their  side,  did  not  cease 
to  reproach  the  partisans  of  Arnold  with  their  want  of  faith, 
and  their  sacrilegious  railleries,  and,  Avithout  ceasing,  op- 
posed new  "sisions  to  the  reasonings  of  the  incredulous.  One 
had  seen  St.  Mark  the  evangelist,  another  the  holy  Virgin, 
and  both  had  attested  the  veracity  of  the  priest  of  3Iar- 
seilles.  Bishop  Adhemar  had  appeared  to  a  third,  informing 
him  that  he  had  been  kept  several  days  in  hell  for  having 
entertained  some  doubts  of  the  ti-uth  of  the  holy  lance. 

These  recitals  only  serv-ed  still  more  to  inflame  the  minds 
of  the  army,  and  violence  often  came  to  the  support  of  trickery 
and  credulity.  At  length  Barthelemi,  seduced  by  the  im- 
portance of  the  part  he  was  mad.e  to  play,  and  perhaps,  also, 
by  the  miraculous  tales  of  his  partisans,  which  might 
strengthen  his  own  illusions,  resolved  to  terminate  all  de- 
bates by  submittinor  to  the  ordeal  bv  fire.  This  resolution 
restored  calm  to  the  Christian  army,  and  all  the  pilgrims 

*  Ranul  de  Caen,  who  was  not  a  partisan  of  the  lance,  and  who  cries 
out,  whilst  speaking  of  this  pretended  discovery,  "  O  fatuitas  rustica  ! 
O  rusticitas  credula!''  does  not  at  all  spare  the  Provencals,  and  has 
transmitted  to  us  the  reproaches  made  to  them  in  the  Christian  army. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  ]93 

•were  convoked  to  be  witnesses  of  tlie  judgment  of  Grod.  On 
the  day  fixed  (it  was  Grood  I^riday),  a  funeral  pile,  made  of 
branches  of  olive,  was  erected  in  the  middle  of  a  vast  plain. 
Most  of  the  Crusaders  were  assembled,  and  evervthing:  was 
prepared  for  the  terrible  ordeal.  The  flames  had  already 
mounted  to  a  height  of  twenty  cubits,  when  Barthelemi 
was  seen  advancing,  accompanied  by  the  priests,  who  w'alked 
in  silence,  barefooted,  and  clothed  in  their  sacerdotal  habits. 
Covered  by  a  simple  tunic,  the  priest  of  Marseilles  bore  the 
holy  lance,  surrounded  with  floating  streamers.  AVhen  he 
arrived  within  a  few  paces  of  the  pile,  one  of  the  principal 
of  the  clergy  pronomiced  in  a  loud  voice  the  following 
words : — "  If  this  man  has  seen  Jesus  Christ  face  to  face, 
and  if  the  apostle  Andrew  did  reveal  tlie  divine  lance  to 
him,  may  he  pass  safe  and  sound  through  the  flames ;  but  if, 
on  the  contrary,  he  is  guilty  of  falsehood,  may  he  be  burnt, 
together  with  the  lance  which  he  bears  in  his  hands."  At 
these  words  all  the  spectators  bowed,  and  answered  as  with 
one  voice,  "  Be  the  will  of  Grod  accomplished."  Barthelemi 
threw  himself  on  his  knees,  took  Heaven  to  witness  the 
truth  of  all  that  lie  had  said,  and,  after  recommending  him- 
self to  the  prayers  of  the  bishops  and  priests,  rushed  through 
the  funeral  pile  at  a  part  where  an  opening  of  two  feet  wide 
had  been  made  for  his  passage. 

The  numerous  spectators  lost  sight  of  him  for  a  moment, 
and  many  pilgrims,  says  Eaymond  d'Agiles,  were  beginning 
to  lament  him,  when  they  saw  him  appear  on  the  side  opposite 
to  that  by  which  he  had  entered.  He  was  immediately  sur- 
rounded and  pressed  upon  by  an  innumerable  crowd,  who 
cried  out  "miracle,"  and  were  eager  to  touch  his  vestments. 
But  Barthelemi  was  covered  with  mortal  wounds.  He  was 
carried  in  a  dying  state  to  the  tent  of  the  count  of  Thou- 
louse,  where  he  expired  a  few  days  after,  still  protesting  his 
innocence  and  veracity.  He  was  buried  beneath  the  spot 
where  the  funeral  pile  had  been  erected.  Eaymond  of  St. 
Gilles  and  the  Proven9als  persisted  in  regarding  him  as  an 
apostle  and  a  martyr.  The  greater  number  of  the  pilgrims 
allowed  themselves  to  be  satisfied  with  the  judgment  of  God* 

*  Videns  quid   actum   est,  populus,  calliditate  verbosa  seductum  ee 
fatetur,  errasse  poenitet. — Rad.  Cad.  cap.  109. 


194  HISTOET    or    THE    CBUS.U)ES. 

and  the  miraculous  lance  from  that  time  ceased  to  work 
miracles.*  In  vain  the  Crusaders  from  the  southern  pro- 
vinces endeavoured  to  substitute  for  it  the  ring  and  cross  of 
of  Adhemar ;  they  attracted  neither  the  devotion  nor  the 
offerings  of  the  pilgrims. 

A\Tiilst  the  Crusaders  were  detained  before  the  fortress  of 
Archas,  thev  received  an  embassy  from  Alexius.  The  Greek 
emperor  wished  to  impose  upon  the  Latins,  by  promising 
to  follow  them  into  Palestine  with  an  army,  if  they  would 
allow  him  time  to  make  the  necessary  preparations.  Alexius 
in  his  letters  complained  of  the  non-performance  of  the 
treaties  by  which  he  was  to  be  made  master  of  the  cities  of 
Syria  and  Asia  ]Minor  that  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
the  Christians  ;  but  he  complained  without  bitterness,  and 
showed  so  much  circumspection  in  his  reproaches  as  proved 
that  he  likewise  had  some  v.Tongs  to  repair.  This  embassy 
was  but  ill  received  in  the  Christian  army.  The  leaders 
accused  the  Grreeks  of  the  death  of  the  count  of  Hainault, 
and  reproached  the  emperor  with  his  shameful  flight  during 
the  siege  of  Antioch.  They  despised  his  complaints,  and 
gave  no  faith  to  his  so  often  broken  promises. 

The  Latins  hated  Alexius  ever  since  the  siege  of  Nice. 
Hatred  guided  them  on  this  occasion  better  than  the  most 
clear-sighted  policy  could  have  done ;  for  in  the  end,  if  we 
are  to  believe  their  historians,  they  learned  that  the  emperor 
of  Constantinople  maintained  a  secret  understanding  with 
the  caliph  of  Egypt,  and  that  his  design  was  to  retard  the 
march  and  the  progress  of  the  Christian  army. 

The  caliph  of  Cairo,  who  was  governed  by  the  same  policy 
as  Alexius,  kept  up  relations  with  the  Crusaders  which  cir- 
cumstances rendered  more  or  less  sincere,  and  which  were 
subordinate  to  the  fear  which  their  arms  inspired.  Although 
he  negotiated  at  the  same  time  with  the  Christians  and  the 
Turks,  he  hated  the  former  because  thev  were  the  enemies 
of  the  prophet,  and  the  latter  because  they  had  deprived 
him  of  Svria,  His  object  was  but  to  profit  by  the  war,  so 
as  to  regam  his  possessions  and  extend  the  limits  of  his 
empire.     For  several  months  he  had  been  master  of  Jeru- 

*  Accounts  of  this  event  may  be  read  in  William  of  Tyre,  Robert 
d'Aix,  and  above  all  in  Raymond  d'Agiles,  who  does  not  omit  the  least 
circumstance. 


HISTOEY    OF    THE    CnUSADES.  196 

salem,  and  as  lie  trembled  for  his  neT;v  conquest,  he  sent 
ambassadors  to  the  Christian  army.  This  embassy  arrived 
in  the  camp  a  short  time  after  the  departure  of  the  deputies 
of  Alexius. 

It  was  accompanied  by  the  deputies  whom  the  Christians 
had  sent  into  Egypt  during  the  siege  of  Antioch.  On  their 
arrival  at  Cairo  they  had  at  first  been  well  received  by  the 
caliph ;  but  as  soon  as  he  learned  that  the  Christian  army 
was  in  a  desperate  situation,  they  were  thrown  into  dun- 
geons, and  only  owed  their  liberation  to  the  triumphant 
march  of  the  Christian  armv,  which  filled  the  East  with  the 
fame  of  its  victories.  Their  unexpected  return  gave  the 
greatest  delight  to  their  brothers  and  companions.  They 
listened  with  emotion  to  the  account  of  then'  captirity,  and 
loud  cries  of  indignation  arose  throughout  the  army  against 
the  caliph  of  Cairo. 

The  Egyptian  ambassadors  did  all  in  their  power  to  justify 
their  master  and  appease  the  anger  of  the  Christians.  They 
had  brought  with  them  magnificent  presents,  destined  by 
the  caliph  for  the  principal  leaders  of  the  army.  They  were 
to  present  to  Godirey  of  Bouillon  forty  thousand  pieces  of 
gold,  thu'ty  mantles,  and  several  vases  of  gold  and  silver ;  to 
Bohemond  they  were  to  offer  sixty  thousand  pieces  of  gold, 
fifty  purple  mantles,  several  precious  vases,  rich  carpets,  and 
an  Arabian  horse  whose  harness  was  covered  with  plates  of 
gold.  Each  leader  was  to  receive  a  present  proportioned  to 
his  mihtary  reputation,  and  to  the  idea  that  was  entertained 
of  his  importance  in  the  Christian  army.  When  the  am- 
bassadors had  distributed  the  presents  of  the  caliph  accor- 
ding to  his  instructions,  they  demanded  permission  to  speak 
in  the  council  of  the  leaders.  They  announced  that  their 
master  had  delivered  Jeru.-alem  from  the  domination  of  the 
Turks,  and  that  he  anxiously  desired  to  maintain  peace  with 
the  Christians.  After  having  declared  the  benevolent  and 
friendly  dispositions  of  the  caliph,  and  after  having  repeated 
that  it  was  his  intention  to  protect  pilgi'images  and  the 
exercise  of  the  Christian  religion,  thev  finished  bv  declarins 
that  the  gates  of  Jerusalem  should  only  be  opened  to  tm- 
armed  Christians.  Upon  hearing  this  proposition,  which 
they  had  abeady  rejected  amidst  the  miseries  of  the  siege  of 
Antioch,  the  leaders  of  the  Christian  army  could  not  restrain 

10* 


196  HISTORY  or  tue  ceusades. 

their  indignation.  As  their  only  answer,  they  came  to  the 
resolution  to  hasten  their  march  towards  the  Holy  Land, 
and  threatened  the  ambassadors  of  Eg^-pt  to  carry  their 
arms  even  to  the  banks  of  the  Xile. 

The  Crusaders  were  drawing  together  their  troops,  which 
had  so  long  been  dispersed,  to  march  together  towards  Jeru- 
salem, when  they  were  attacked  by  the  emir  of  TripoH.  A 
prompt  and  bloody  defeat  was  the  reward  of  the  temerity  of 
the  Mussulman  prince.  After  ha^-ing  lost  a  great  number 
of  his  soldiers,  he  was  obliged  to  purchase  peace  and  the 
safety  of  his  capital  by  the  payment  of  a  considerable  tribute 
to  the  Crusaders.  He  fui-nished  them  Avith  provisions  in 
abundance,  sent  back  three  hundi-ed  Christian  prisoners  to 
the  camp,  and,  to  leave  no  pretext  for  future  hostilities,  he 
engaged  to  surrender  the  places  he  possessed  when  their 
standards  should  float  over  the  walls  of  Jerusalem. 

The  Crusaders,  satisfied  "with  this  promise  extracted  from 
fear,  had  no  more  enemies  to  combat,  and  now  only  thought 
of  that  one  conquest  Avhich  was  to  assure  them  all  others. 
Eavmond  alone  did  not  partake  of  the  new  ardour  of  the 
Christian  army;  he  was  fixed  in  his  determination  to  remain 
before  Archas,  and  only  gave  up  the  siege  when  his  soldiers 
had  a  second  time  threatened  to  abandon  his  colours. 

The  Crusaders  commenced  their  march  towards  Palestine 
at  the  end  of  the  month  of  May.*  Tlie  inhabitants  of  Phoe- 
nicia had  finished  their  harvest.  The  Christians  found  pro- 
visions evervwhere,  and  admired  on  their  passage  the  rich 
productions  of  Asia,  which  they  already  looked  upon  as  the 
reward  of  then  labours.  On  their  left  rose  the  mountains 
of  Libanus,  so  often  celebrated  by  the  prophets ;  between 
the  mountains  and  the  sea,  the  fields  they  traversed  were 
covered  with  olive-trees,  which  grew  to  the  height  of  elms 
and  oaks ;  in  the  plains  and  on  the  hills  were  oranges,  pome- 
granates, and  many  other  sorts  of  trees  unknown  in  the 
West,  Among  these  new  productions  one  plant,  the  juice 
of  which  was  sweeter  than  honev,  above  all  attracted  the 
attention  of  the  pilgrims :   this  plant  was  the  sugar-cane. 

*  The  picture  of  the  march  and  the  impatience  of  the  Christians  is  to 
be  found  in  Tasso,  in  the  same  colours  and  almost  the  same  circumstancea 
as  in  the  historians. 


HISTORY    or    THE    CRUSADES.  197 

It  was  cultivated  in  several  of  the  provinces  of  Syria,  and 
particidarly  in  tiie  territory  of  Tripoli,  where  they  had 
found  means  of  extracting  from  it  the  substance  which  the 
inhabitants  called  zucra.^  According  to  Albert  d'Aix,  this 
plant  had  afforded  great  assistance  to  the  Christians  w^hen 
assailed  by  famine  at  the  sieges  of  Maarah  and  Archas. 
This  plant,  now  become  of  such  importance  in  commerce, 
had  been  till  this  time  unkno\Mi  in  the  West.  The  pilgrims 
made  it  known  in  Europe,  and  towards  the  end  of  the 
crusades  it  was  transported  into  Italy  and  Sicily,  w^hilst  the 
Saracens  introduced  it  into  the  kingdom  of  Grrenada,  whence 
the  Spaniards  afterwards  conveyed  it  to  Madeira  and  the 
American  colonies. f 

When  the  pilgrims  were  all  united  to  continue  their 
march  to  Palestine,  they  must  doubtless  have  been  struck 
with  terror  as  they  contemplated  the  losses  they  had  ex- 
perienced. More  than  two  hundred  thousand  Crusaders 
had  been  cut  off  by  battles,  famine,  misery,  and  disease.  A 
great  number  of  them,  unable  to  support  the  fatigues  of  the 
holy  pilgrimage,  and  losing  all  hope  of  seeing  Palestine,  had 
returned  to  the  West.  Many  had  taken  up  their  abode  in 
Antioch,  Edessa,  and  other  cities  from  which  they  had 
driven  the  inhabitants,  and  which  they  were  obliged  to 
defend  against  the  infidels.  With  all  these  deductions,  the 
army  which  was  to  achieve  the  conquest  of  the  Holy  Land 

*  We  think  it  right  here  to  give  the  account  of  Albert  d'Alx  : — Cala- 
mellos  mellitas  per  cansporum  planiciem  abundanter  repertos,  quasvocant 
ZUCRA,  suxit  populus,  illarum  salubri  succo  laetatus  et  vix  ad  saturitatem 
prae  dulcedine  expleri  hoc  gustato  valebant.  Hoc  enim  genus  herbae 
summo  labore  agricolaruni,  per  singulos  excolitur  annos.  Deinde,  tem- 
pore messis  maturum  mortariolis  indigenae  contundunt,  succum  collatum  in 
vasis  suis  reponentes  quousque  coagulatum  indurescat  sub  specie  nivis 
vel  salis  albi.  Quern  rasum  cum  pane  miscentes  aut  cum  aqua  terentes, 
pro  pulmento  sumunt,  et  supra  favura  mellis  gustantibus  dulce  ac  salubre 

videtur His  ergo  calamellis  melliti  saporis  populus  in  obsidione 

Albariae,  Marrag  et  Archas,  multum  horrenda  fame  vexatus,  est  refocilla- 
tus. — All).  Aq.  Kb.  V.  cap.  3. 

t  Sanuti  proposed  to  plant  the  sugar-cane  in  Sicily  and  Apulia.  This 
idea  was  not  carried  into  execution  before  the  end  of  the  fourteenth  cen- 
tury. The  sugar-cane  did  not  pass,  as  has  been  said,  from  Sicily  to 
America  ;  it  was  transported  to  Madeira  from  the  coast  of  Spain,  whither 
it  had  been  brought  by  the  Saracens.  The  sugar-cane  is  still  found  in 
some  parts  of  the  kingdom  of  Grenada. 


198  HISTOILY    OJT    THE    CEUSADES. 

scarcely  numbered  fifty  thousand  figating  men  under  its 
banners. 

The  leader3,  however,  did  not  hesitate  to  pursue  their 
enterprise.  They  who  did  remain  in  the  ranks  had  borne 
every  trial ;  they  did  not  drag  in  their  train  a  useless,  em- 
barrassmg  multitude  ;  and  it  was  much  more  easy  to  supply 
them  with  provisions  and  estabhsh  order  and  discipline 
amongst  them.  Strengthened  in  some  sort  by  their  losses, 
they  were  perhaps  more  formidable  than  they  were  at  the 
siege  of  Xice.  The  remembrance  of  their  exploits  increased 
their  confidence  and  courage,  and  the  terror  which  their 
arms  inspired  might  well  make  the  Saracens  believe  that 
their  army  was  still  innumerable. 

Most  of  the  princes  whom  the  war  had  ruined  were  in 
the  pay  of  the  count  of  Thoidouse.  This  species  of  degra- 
dation was  doubtless  painful  to  their  pride ;  but  as  they 
approached  the  holy  city  it  might  be  said  that  they  lost 
some  of  their  indomitable  arrogance,  and  that  they  forgot 
both  their  pretensions  and  their  quarrels.  The  most  perfect 
imion  now  prevailed  among  the  Crusaders.  In  their  impa- 
tience to  see  Jerusalem,  neither  moimtains,  defiles,  rivers, 
nor  any  other  impediments  at  all  damped  their  ardour ;  the 
soldiers  would  not  even  consent  to  take  repose,  and  often, 
contrary  to  the  wishes  of  their  leaders,  marched  dui'ing  the 
night. 

The  Christian  army  followed  the  coasts  of  the  sea,  where 
they  might  be  provisioned  by  the  Pisan,  G-enoese,  and 
Flemish  fleets.  A  crowd  of  Christians  and  pious  sohtaries 
who  inhabited  the  neighbouring  mountaias,  hastened  to  meet 
their  brethren  of  the  AYest,  brought  them  fresh  provisions, 
and  guided  them  on  their  way.  After  a  paiaful  march  over 
rocks  and  along  the  dech\'ities  of  precipices,  they  descended 
into  the  plaui  of  Berytus,  and  traversed  the  territory  of 
Sidon  and  T^tc. 

"^Tiilst  they  remained  three  days  on  the  banks  of  the 
liver  Eleuctera,  thev  were  assailed  by  serpents  called  tarenta^ 
whose  bite  produced  death,  attended  by  ^-iolent  pain  and 
unquenchable  thirst.  The  sight  of  these  reptiles,  which 
they  attempted  to  frighten  away  by  striking  stones  one 
against  another,  or  by  the  clashing  of  their  bucklers,  filled 
the  pilgrims  with  fear  and  surprise ;  but  that  whicli  must 


IITSTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  199 

have  much  more  astonished  them  was  the  strange  remedy 
for  their  bite  which  the  inliabitants  pointed  out  to  them, 
and  Avhich  without  doubt  must  have  seemed  to  them  far  more 
a  subject  of  scandal  than  a  means  of  cure.* 

The  Christians,  having  still  continued  to  march  along  the 
coast,  arrived  before  the  walls  of  Accon,  the  ancient  Ptole- 
mais,  at  the  present  day  St.  Jean  d'Acre.  The  emir  who 
commanded  in  this  city  for  the  caliph  of  Egypt  sent  them 
provisions,  and  promised  to  surrender  as  soon  as  they  should 
become  masters  of  Jerusalem.  The  Crusaders,  who  had  no 
idea  of  attacking  Ptolemais,  received  with  joy  the  submission 
and  promises  of  the  Egyptian  emir  ;  but  chance  soon  made 
them  aware  that  he  had  no  other  intention  but  that  of 
getting  them  out  of  his  territories,  and  raismg  up  enemies 
against  them  in  the  countries  they  were  about  to  pass 
through.  The  Christian  army,  after  having  quitted  the 
country  of  Ptolemais,  had  advanced  between  the  sea  and 
Mount  Carmel,  and  were  encamped  near  the  port  of  Csesarea, 
when  a  dove,  which  had  escaped  from  the  talons  of  a  bird  of 
prey,  fell  lifeless  among  the  soldiers.  The  bishop  of  Apt, 
who  chanced  to  pick  up  this  bird,  found  under  its  wing  a 

*  I  at  first  thought  that  these  serpents  could  be  only  the  dipsada,  or 
fire-serpent.  I  communicated  this  opinion  to  M.  Walckenaer,  who  with 
reason  had  seen  nothing  in  the  reptiles  of  which  Albert  d'Aix  speaks,  but 
the  common  ^rec/ro  of  Egypt  {Lacerta gecko  of  Linnaeus),  which  Belon  and 
Hasselquits  have  found  in  great  numbers  in  Syria,  Judea,  and  Egypt. 
Tills  species  is  very  venomous ;  it  resembles  other  species  of  the  same 
genus  and  of  the  genus  stellion,  which  appear  to  be  harmless,  and  are 
found  in  France,  Italy,  Sardinia,  and  on  all  the  coasts  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean Sea,  where  it  is  called  larente,  f areata,  tarentola,  &c.  The  opinion 
of  M.  Walckenaer  appears  the  morrt  reasonable,  from  the  two  species  of 
serpents  and  vipers  to  which  naturalists  have  given  the  name  dipaada  ; 
the  one,  the  Coluber  dipsas  of  Linnaeus,  which  is  the  dipsada,  properly 
speaking,  being  only  found  in  America ;  the  other,  the  black  viper, 
Coluber  prcester  of  Linnfeu-:,  appears  peculiar  to  Europe,  and  is  more 
common  in  the  north  than  in  the  south.  We  may  venture  to  quote  the 
passage  of  Albert  d'Aix  in  Latin,  which  speaks  of  the  remedy  advised  by 
the  inhabitants  of  the  country  against  the  bite  of  the  tarenta : — Similiter 
et  aliam  edocti  sunt  medicinam,  ut  vir  percussus  sine  mora  coiret  cum 
muliere,  cum  viro  mulier,  et  sic  ab  omni  tumore  veneni  liberaretur  uter- 
que. — Alb.  Aq.  lib.  iv.  cap.  40.  The  same  historian  speaks  of  another 
remedy,  which  consisted  in  pressing  strongly  the  place  of  the  bite,  to 
prevent  the  communication  of  the  venom  with  the  other  parts  of  the 
system. 


200  niSTORT    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

letter  written  by  tlie  emir  of  Ptolemais  to  the  emir  of 
Cresarea.  "  The  cursed  race  of  the  Christians,"  wrote  the 
emir,  "  have  just  passed  through  my  territories,  and  will 
soon  cross  yours ;  let  the  chiefs  of  all  the  Mussulman  cities 
be  warned  of  their  march,  and  let  them  take  measures  to 
crush  oiu'  enemies."  This  letter  was  read  in  the  councd  of 
the  princes,  and  before  all  the  army.  The  Crusaders,  ac- 
cording to  the  account  of  Eaymond  d'Agiles,  an  eye-witness, 
broke  out  into  loud  expressions  of  surprise  and  joy,  no 
longer  doubting  that  God  protected  theii'  enterprise,  since 
he  sent  the  birds  of  heaven  to  reveal  to  them  the  secrets  of 
the  infidels.  Filled  with  new  enthusiasm,  they  continued 
their  route,  drawing  away  from  the  sea,  and  lea\'ing  Anti- 
patride  and  Jaffa  on  their  right.  They  saluted  in  the  east 
the  heights  of  Ephraim,  and  took  possession  of  Lydda  (the 
ancient  Diospolis),  celebrated  by  the  martyrdom  of  St. 
George,  and  of  Ramla,  famous  for  the  birth  and  tomb  of 
Samuel. 

"When  arrived  at  this  last-named  city,  the  Christians  had 
only  a  march  of  sixteen  miles  to  be  before  Jerusalem.  The 
leaders  held  a  council,  in  which  some  of  them  proposed  to 
go  and  attack  the  infidels  in  Eg^^t,  instead  of  undertaking 
the  siege  of  the  holy  city.*  "  AS'^hen,"  said  they,  "we  shall 
have  conquered  the  sidtan  of  Eg^-pt,  the  cities  of  Alexandria 
and  Cairo,  with  Palestine  and  most  of  the  kingdoms  of  the 
East,  will  fall  under  our  power.  If  we  go  straight  to  Jeru- 
salem, we  shall  want  both  water  and  provisions,  and  we  shall 
be  obliged  to  raise  the  siege,  without  having  the  power  to 
undertake  anything  else."  Such  of  the  leaders  as  did  not 
agree  with  this  opinion,  answered,  "  That  the  Christian  army 
amounted  to  no  more  than  fifty  thousand  combatants,  and 
that  it  would  be  m.adness  to  begin  a  march  to  distant,  and, 
to  them,  unkno^vn  regions,  and  where  they  could  look  for  no 
assistance.  On  all  sides  they  must  expect  dangers  and 
obstacles :  nowhere  should  they  be  free  from  the  dread  of 

*  It  is  Raymond  d'Agiles  alone  who  speaks  of  this  strange  deliberation 
of  the  leaders ;  if  this  historian  had  not  been  present,  we  could  give  no 
credit  to  it. — See  Raym.  d'Jffiles,  in  the  Collection  of  Bon  gars,  p.  173. 
Albert  d'Aix  contents  himself  with  saying  that  the  leaders,  after  having 
traversed  the  territory  of  Ptolemai's,  deliberated  whether  they  should  not 
go  to  Damascus. 


HISTORY    or   THE    CRUSADES.  201 

"want  of  provisions ;  but  the  route  to  Jerusalem  was  mueli 
more  easy  tliaii  that  to  Alexandria  or  Cairo.  The  Crusaders 
coidd  pursue  no  wiser  plan  than  to  continue  their  march, 
and  prosecute  the  enterprise  they  had  begun,  leaving  it  to 
Providence  to  provide  for  their  wants,  and  protect  them 
from  thirst  and  famine." 

This  latter  opinion  was  adopted,  and  the  army  received 
the  signal  for  departure.  The  cities  which  lay  in  the  route 
of  the  Crusaders  were  all  abandoned  by  the  infidels.  The 
greater  part  of  the  pilgrims  endeavoured  to  get  in  advance 
of  each  other,  that  they  miglit  be  the  first  to  obtain  pos- 
session of  the  places  and  castles  that  were  thus  left  without 
inhabitants.  The  Crusaders,  says  Eaymond  d'Agiles,  had 
agreed  among  themselves,  that  when  one  of  the  leaders  had 
planted  his  standard  upon  a  city,  or  had  placed  any  mark 
whatever  on  the  door  of  a  house,  he  should  become  the 
legitimate  possessor  of  it.  This  imprudent  agreement  had 
given  birth  to  ambition  and  covetousness  in  the  soldiers  as 
well  as  the  barons.  Many,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  rich 
possessions,  abandoned  their  colours,  wandered  about  the 
country,  and  spread  themselves  even  as  far  as  the  banks  of 
the  Jordan.  In  the  mean  time,  those  to  whom,  according 
to  the  expression  of  the  historians,  nothing  ivas  more  dear 
than  the  commandments  of  God,  advanced,  barefooted,  under 
the  standard  of  the  cross,  lamenting  the  error  of  their  bre- 
thren. When  they  arrived  at  Emmaus,  a  considerable  city 
in  the  times  of  the  Maccabees,  and  which  was  then  no  more 
than  a  large  village,  known  under  the  name  of  jNTicopolis, 
some  Christians  of  Bethlehem  came  to  implore  their  assist- 
ance. Touched  with  their  prayers,  Tancred  set  out  in  the 
middle  of  the  night  with  a  detachment  of  three  hundred 
men,  and  planted  the  flag  of  the  Crusaders  upon  the  walls  of 
the  city,  at  the  same  hoar  in  which  Christ  was  born  and  was 
announced  to  the  shepherds  of  Judea. 

During  this  same  night  a  phenomenon  appeared  in  the 
heaven,  which  powerfully  affected  the  imagination  of  the 
pilgrims.  An  eclipse  of  the  moon  produced  all  at  once  the 
most  profound  darkness,  and  when  she  at  length  re-appeared 
she  was  covered  with  a  blood-red  veil.  Many  of  the  Cru- 
saders were  seized  with  terror  at  this  spectacle ;  but  tliose 
who  were  acquainted  with  the  march  and  movements  of  the 


202  HISTOEY    or    THE    CRUSADES. 

stars,  says  Albert  d'Aix,  reassured  their  companions  by 
telling  them  that  the  sight  of  such  a  phenomenon  announced 
the  triumph  of  the  Christians  and  the  destruction  of  the 
infidels. 

Bv  the  break  of  day,  on  the  10th  of  June,  1099,  the 
Crusaders  ascended  the  heights  of  Emmaus.  All  at  once 
the  holy  city  presented  itself  to  their  eyes.*  The  first  who 
perceived  it  exclaimed  together,  "  Jerusalem  !  Jerusalem  !  " 
The  rear  ranks  rushed  forward  to  behold  the  city  that  was 
the  object  of  all  their  wishes,  and  the  words,  "  It  is  the  icill 
of  God  !  It  is  the  will  of  God  !  "  were  shouted  by  the  whole 
army,  and  resounded  over  Moimt  Sion  and  the  Mount  of 
Olives,  which  offered  themselves  to  the  eager  gaze  of  the 
Crusaders.  The  horsemen  dismounted  from  their  horses, 
and  marched  barefooted.  Some  cast  themselves  upon  their 
knees  at  beholding  the  holy  places,  whilst  others  kissed  with 
respect  the  earth  honoured  by  the  presence  of  the  Saviour. 
In  their  transports  they  passed  by  turns  from  joy  to  sad- 
ness, and  from  sadness  to  joy.  At  one  moment  they  feli- 
citated themselves  with  touching  the  last  term  of  their 
labours ;  and  then  wept  over  their  sins,  over  the  death  of 
Christ,  and  over  his  profaned  tomb ;  but  all  renewed  the 
oath  they  had  so  often  made  to  deliver  the  holy  city  from 
the  sacrilegious  yoke  of  the  Mussulmans. 

History  furnishes  very  few  positive  notions  of  the  foun- 

*  Tasso  has  spoken  of  the  enthusiasm  of  the  Crusaders  at  the  sight  of 
Jerusalem.  The  historians  of  the  crusades,  Albert  d'Aix,  the  author  of 
the  Gesta  Francorum,  Robert  the  Monk,  Baldric  or  Baudry,  and  William 
of  Tyre,  present  us  with  the  same  picture  that  Tasso  does.  We  will 
content  ourselves  with  quoting  here  a  passage  from  the  "  History  of 
Jerusalem  and  Hebron,"  which  proves  that  the  sight  of  that  city  likewise 
awakens  the  enthusiasm  of  Mussulmans  :  "  The  coup  cVoeil  of  Jerusalem," 
says  this  history,  "  is  very  fine,  particularly  when  seen  from  the  Mount 
of  Olives.  When  the  pilgrim  arrives  there,  and  sees  the  buildings  nearer, 
his  heart  is  tilled  with  an  inexpressible  joy,  jind  he  easily  forgets  all  the 
fatigues  of  his  voyage."  Hatiz,  the  son  of  Hadjar,  improvised  on  his 
arrival  at  Jerusalem  four  verses,  of  which  this  is  the  translation  :  "  When 
we  approached  the  holy  city,  the  Lord  showed  us  Jerusalem  ;  we  had 
suffered  much  during  our  voyage,  but  we  beheved  ourselves  then  entering 
into  heaven."  We  have  heard  several  modern  travellers,  of  different  man- 
ners, religions,  and  opinions,  say  that  they  all  felt  a  lively  emotion  at 
seeing  Jeru^alem  for  the  first  time.  See  the  beautiful  description  that 
JM.  de  Chateaubriand  has  given  of  it  in  his  Itinerary. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    CRUSADES.  203 

dation  and  origin  of  Jerusalem.  The  common  opinion  ig, 
tliat  Melchisedec,  who  is  called  king  of  Salem  in  Scriptiu-e, 
made  his  residence  there.  It  was  afterwards  the  capital  of  the 
Jebusees,  which  procured  it  the  name  of  the  city  of  Jebus. 
It  is  probable  that  from  the  name  of  Jebus  and  that  of 
Salem,  which  signifies  vision,  or  abode  of  'peace,  was  formed 
the  name  of  Jerusalem,*  which  it  bore  under  the  kings  of 
Judah. 

From  the  highest  antiquity  Jerusalem  yielded  in  magnifi- 
cence to  none  of  the  cities  of  Asia.  Jeremiah  names  it 
admirahle  city,  on  account  of  its  beauty ;  and  David  calls  it 
the  most  glorious  and  most  illustrious  citij  of  the  East.  Erom 
the  nature  of  its  entirely  religious  legislation,  it  always 
showed  an  invincible  attachment  for  its  laws ;  but  it  was 
often  a  prey  to  the  fanaticism  of  its  enemies  as  well  as  that 
of  its  own  citizens.  Its  founders,  says  Tacitus,  having  fore- 
seen that  the  opposition  of  their  manners  to  those  of  other 
nadpns  would  be  a  source  of  war,  had  given  their  attention 
to  its  fortificatioils,  and  in  the  early  times  of  the  Eoman 
empire  it  was  one  of  the  strongest  places  in  Asia.  After 
having  undergone  a  great  many  revolutions,  it  was  at  length 
completely  destroyed  by  Titus,  and  in  accordance  with  the 
denunciations  of  the  prophets,  presented  no  more  than  a 
horrible  confusion  of  stones.  The  emperor  Adrian  after- 
wards destroyed  even  its  ruins,  and  caused  another  city  to 
be  built,  giving  it  the  name  of  Aelia,  so  that  there  should 
remain  nothing  of  the  ancient  Jerusalem.  The  Christians, 
but  more  particularly  the  Jews,  v^ere  banished  from  it. 
Paganism  there  exalted  its  idols,  and  Jupiter  and  Venus  had 
altars  upon  the  tomb  of  Jesus  Christ.  In  the  midst  of  so  many 
profanations  and  vicissitudes,  the  people  of  the  East  and  the 
AVest  scarcely  preserved  the  memory  of  the  city  of  David, 
when  Constantine  restored  it  its  name,  recalled  the  faithful, 
and  made  it  a  Christian  city.  Conquered  afterwards  by  the 
Persians,  and  retaken  by  the  G-reeks,  it  had  fallen  a  bloody 
prey  into  the  hands  of  the  Mussulmans,  who  disputed  the 
possession  of  it,  and  subjected  it  by  turns  to  the  double 
scourge  of  persecution  and  war.f 

*  The  name  of  Solyraa  was  formed  from  that  of  Hierosolyma. 
t  The  Mussulmans   call   Jerusalem   El    Cods   (the     holy),    Beit-td- 
Mocaddes  (the  holy  house),  and  scraetimes  El  C/ierif  (the  noble).     A 


201  KISTOHY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

At  the  time  of  the  crusades,  Jerusalem  formed,  as  it  does 
at  present,  a  square,  rather  longer  than  \\-ide,  of  about  a 
leao'ue  in  cii'cuinference.  It  extends  over  four  hills :  on 
the  east  the  2loriah,  upon  which  the  mosque  of  Omar  was 
built  in  the  place  of  the  temple  of  Solomon ;  on  the  south 
and  Avest  the  Acra,  Avhich  occupied  the  whole  width  of  the 
city  ;  on  the  north  the  Bezetlia,  or  the  new  cit  j ;  and  on  the 
north-west  the  Golgotha,  or  Calvary,  which  the  Greeks  con- 
sidered to  be  the  centre  of  the  world,  and  upon  which  was 
built  the  church  of  the  Hesurreetion.  In  the  state  in  which 
Jerusalem  then  was  it  had  lost  much  of  its  strength  and  ex- 
tent. Mount  Sion  no  longer  arose  within  its  enclosure  and 
dominated  over  its  walls  between  the  south  and  west.  The 
three  vallevs  which  surrounded  the  ramparts  had  been  in 
many  places  filled  up  by  Adrian,  and  the  access  to  the  place 
was  much  less  difficult,  particularly  on  the  northern  side. 
Nevertheless,  as  Jerusalem  under  the  Saracens  had  had  to 
sustain  several  sieges,  and  as  it  was  at  all  times  exposed  to 
fresh  attacks,  its  fortifications  had  not  been  neglected.  The 
Egyptians,  who  had  had  possession  of  it  for  several  months, 
took  advantage  of  the  tardiness  of  the  Christian  army  to  put 
it  in  a  state  of  defence. 

"WTiilst  the  Crusaders  were  advancing  slowly  towards  the 
city,  the  lieutenant  of  the  caliph,  Iftikhar-Eddaulah,  ravaged 
the  neighbouring  plains,  burnt  the  villages,  filled  up  or  poi- 
soned the  cisterns,  and  surrounded  himself  with  a  desert  in 
which  the  Christians  must  find  themselves  a  prey  to  all  kinds 
of  misery.  He  caused  provisions  for  a  long  siege  to  be 
transported  into  the  place ;  he  caUed  upon  all  Mussulmans 
to  come  to  the  defence  of  Jerusalem,  and  employed  a  great 
number  of  workmen,  day  and  night,  to  construct  machines 
of  war,  to  raise  the  walls,  and  repair  the  towers.  The  gar- 
rison of  the  citv  amounted  to  fortv  thousand  men,  and 
twenty  thousand  of  the  inliabitants  took  up  arms. 

At  the  approach  of  the  Christians,  some  detachments  of 
infidels  had  come  out  from  Jerusalem  to  observe  the  march 
and  proceedings  of  the  enemy,  but  were  repulsed  by  Baldwin 


description  of  Jerusalem  may  be  seen  in  the  extracts  from  the  Arabian 
history  of  Jerusalem  and  Hebron,  translated  into  French  and  inserted  in 
the  German  J  ouinal,  entitled  "  The  Mines  of  the  Eaist." 


KISTOKY    or    THE    CilUSADES.  205 

du  Boiirg  and  Tancred.  The  latter  had  hastened  from  Beth- 
lehem, of  whicli  he  had  taken  possession.  After  having  pur- 
sued the  fugitives  up  to  the  gates  of  the  holy  city,  he  left 
his  companions  and  repaired  alone  to  the  Mount  of  Olives, 
from  whence  he  contemplated  at  leisure  the  city  promised 
to  the  arms  and  devotion  of  the  pilgrims.*  He  was  dis- 
turbed in  his  pious  contemplations  by  live  Mussulmans  Avho 
came  from  the  city,  and  finding  him  alone  attacked  him.f 
Tancred  made  no  effort  to  avoid  the  combat ;  three  of  the 
Saracens  fell  beneath  his  arm,  whilst  the  other  two  took  to 
flight,  AVitliout  either  hastening  or  retarding  his  speed, 
Tancred  rejoined  the  army,  which,  in  its  enthusiasm,  was 
advancing  without  order,  and  descended  the  heights  of 
Emmaus,;{;  singing  these  words  from  Isaiah,  "  Jerusalem,  lift 
tip  thine  eyes,  and  behold  the  liberator  tvho  comes  to  break  ihy 
chains^ 

On  the  day  after  their  arrival  the  Crusaders  employed 
tliemselves  in  regularh^  laying  siege  to  the  place.  The  duke 
of  Normandv,  the  count  of  Flanders,  and  Tancred  encamoed 
tovrards  the  north,  from  the  gate  of  Herod  to  the  gate  of 
Cedar  or  of  St.  Stephen.  jS'ear  to  the  Flemings,  the  Nor- 
mans, and  the  Italians,  were  placed  the  English,  commanded 
by  Edgar  Atheling,  and  the  Bretons,  conducted  by  their 
duke,  Alain  Eergent,  the  sire  de  Chateau-Griron,  and  the 
viscount  de  Dinan.  Godfrey,  Eustace,  and  Baldwin  du 
Bourg  established  their  quarters  between  the  west  and  the 
north,  around  the  enclosure  of  Calvary,  from  the  gate  of 
Damascus  to  the  gate  of  Jaffa.  The  count  of  Thoulouse 
placed  his  camp  to  the  right  of  Godfrey  between  the  south 
and  the  west ;  he  had  near  to  him  Baimbaud  of  Orange, 
"William  of  Montpellier,  and  Gaston  of  Beam.  His  troops 
at  first  extended  to  the  declivity  of  Sion,  and  a  few  days 

*  Tasso  here  makes  Tancred  contend  with  Clorinda.  The  personages 
of  Clorinda  and  Herminia  are  the  invention  of  the  poet. 

f  Tliis  fact,  which  Tasso  has  mixed  with  some  fictions,  is  related  by 
Raoul  de  Caen,  Gesta  Tancredi,  cap.  112.  The  same  historian  adds  that 
Tancred  met  upon  the  Mount  of  Olives  a  hermit  who  was  born  in  Nor- 
mandy, and  who  ha  i  been  the  enemy  of  Robert  Guiscard  and  his  family. 
This  hermit  welcomed  the  Italian  hero  with  respect,  and  showed  hitn  the 
places  around  Jerusalem  the  most  venerated  by  pilgrims. 

X  See,  for  this  arrival  of  the  Christians,  William  of  Tyre,  lib.  vii. 
cap.  25. 


206  HISTOEY    or    THE    CRUSADES. 

afterwards  he  pitched  his  tents  upon  the  very  summit  of  the 
mountain,  at  the  place  where  Christ  celebrated  Easter.  By 
these  dispositions  the  Crusaders  left  ti-ee  the  sides  of  the 
citv  which  were  defended  on  the  south  by  the  valley  of 
(xibon  or  Siloe,  and  towards  the  east  by  the  valley  of  Jeho- 
shaphat.* 

Every  step  that  the  pilgrims  took  around  Jerusalem 
brought  to  their  minds  some  remembrance  dear  to  their 
religion.  In  this  territorv,  so  revered  by  the  Christians, 
there  was  not  a  valley,  not  a  rock  which  had  not  a  name  in 
sacred  history.  All  that  they  saw  awakened  or  warmed 
their  enthusiasm.  They  could  not  withdraw  their  eyes 
from  the  holy  citv,  or  cease  to  lament  over  the  state  of 
debasement  into  which  it  had  fallen.  This  citv,  once  so 
sunerb,  looked  as  if  buried  in  its  own  ruins,  and  thev  then 
might,  to  employ  the  expression  of  Josephus,  have  asked  in 
Jerusalem  itself  where  was  Jerusalem  ?  "With  its  square 
houses  without  windows,  surmoimted  by  flat  terraces,  it 
appeared  to  the  Crusaders  like  an  enormous  2iass  of  stones 
heaped  up  between  rocks.  They  could  only  perceive  here 
and  there  in  its  bosom  a  few  cypresses  and  some  clumps  of 
aloes  and  terebinthi,  among  which  arose  steeples  in  the 
quarter  of  the  Christians,  and  mosques  in  that  of  the 
intldels.  In  the  valleys  and  the  fields  adjacent  to  the  city, 
■which  ancient  traditions  describe  as  covered  with  gardens 
and  groves,  there  struggled  into  gro^\i:h  a  few  scattered 
olives  and  thorny  shrubs.  The  sight  of  these  sterile  plains, 
and  of  the  mountains  burnt  up  by  an  ardent  sun,  offered  to 
the  pilgrims  nothing  but  images  of  mourning,  and  mingled 
a  melancholy  sadness  with  their  religious  sentiments.  They 
seemed  to  hear  the  voices  of  the  prophets  which  had  an- 
nounced the  servitude  and  the  misfortunes  of  the  city  of 
God,  and,  in  the  excess  of  their  devotion,  they  thought 
themselves  called  upon  to  restore  it  to  its  ancient  greatness 
and  splendour. 

That  which  still  further  inflamed  the  zeal  of  the  Crusaders 

*  In  comparing  the  description  of  the  siege  of  Jerusalem  by  the  Cru- 
saders \\  ith  ihat  ut  the  siege  which  the  Romans  carried  on  under  Vespasian, 
vce  tind  that  the  quarters  of  Godfrey  were  in  the  same  place  as  those  of 
Titus,  when  he  directed  his  first  attacks  against  the  city.  See  the  History 
of  Josephus. 


HISTORY  or  THE  crusades.  207 

for  the  deliverance  of  the  holy  city,  was  the  arrival  amongst 
them  of  a  great  number  of  Christians  who  had  come  out  of 
Jerusalem,  and  being  deprived  of  their  property  and  driven 
from  their  homes,  had  sought  assistance  and  an  asylum 
among  their  brethren  from  the  West.  These  Christians 
described  the  miseries  which  the  Mussulmans  had  inflicted 
upon  all  the  worshippers  of  Christ.  The  Momen,  children, 
and  old  men  were  detained  as  hostages,  whilst  such  as  were 
of  an  age  to  bear  arms  were  condemned  to  labours  which 
surpassed  their  strength.  The  head  of  the  principal  hos- 
pital for  pilgrims  had,  with  a  great  many  other  Christians, 
been  cast  into  prison,  and  the  churches  had  been  pillaged  to 
furnish  support  for  the  Mussulman  soldiers.  The  patriarch 
Simeon  was  gone  to  the  isle  of  Cyprus  to  implore  the 
charity  of  the  faithful,  and  save  his  flock,  which  was  me- 
naced with  destruction  if  he  did  not  pay  the  enormous 
tribute  imposed  by  the  oppressors  of  the  holy  city.  Every 
day  new  outrages  were  heaped  upon  the  Christians  of  Jeru- 
salem, and  several  times  the  infidels  had  formed  the  project 
of  giving  up  to  the  flames  and  utterly  destroying  both  the 
Holy  Sepulchre  and  the  church  of  the  Resurrection. 

The  Christian  fugitives,  whilst  making  these  melancholy 
recitals  to  the  pilgrims,  exhorted  them  to  hasten  their  attack 
upon  Jerusalem.  In  the  very  first  days  of  the  siege,  a 
solitary,  who  had  fixed  his  retreat  on  the  Mount  of  Ohves, 
came  to  join  his  prayers  wdth  those  of  the  Christians  driven 
from  Jerusalem,  and  conjured  the  Crusaders,  in  the  name 
of  Christ,  whose  interpreter  he  declared  himself,  at  once  to 
proceed  to  a  general  assault.  Although  destitute  of  either 
ladders  or  machines  of  war,  the  Crusaders  yielded  to  the 
counsels  of  the  pious  hermit,  believing  that  their  courage 
and  their  swords  Avere  sufficient  to  destroy  the  ramparts  of 
the  Saracens.  The  leaders,  who  had  seen  so  many  prodigies 
performed  by  the  valour  and  enthusiasm  of  the  Christian 
soldiers,  and  who  had  not  forgotten  the  lengthened  miseries 
of  the  siege  of  Antioch,  yielded  without  difficidty  to  the 
impatience  of  the  army  ;  besides,  the  sight  of  Jerusalem  had 
exalted  the  mmds  of  the  Crusaders,  and  disposed  even  the 
least  credulous  to  hope  that  Grod  himself  would  second  their 
bravery  by  miracles. 

At  the  first  signal,  the  Christian  army  advanced  in  good 


208  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CKUSADES. 

order  towards  the  ramparts.  Xever,  say  the  liistoriaas,  did 
the  soldiers  of  the  cross  eyiuce  so  much  ardour ;  some, 
joined  in  close  battalions,  covered  themselves  with  their 
bucklers,  which  formed  an  impenetrable  vault  over  their 
heads,  and  endeavoured  with  pikes  and  hammers  to  destroy 
the  wall ;  whilst  others,  ranged  in  long  files,  remained  at 
some  distance,  and  plied  their  slings  and  cross-bows  in  driving 
the  enemy  from  the  ramparts.  OH,  boding  pitch,  large 
stones,  and  enormous  beams  were  cast  upon  the  front  ranlis 
of  the  Christians  without  putting  the  least  stop  to  their 
labours.  The  outer  wall  began  to  fall  beneath  their  strokes, 
but  the  inner  wall  presented  an  insuperable  obstacle,  and 
nothing  was  left  to  them  but  escalade.  This  bold  method 
was  attempted,  although  only  one  ladder  long  enough  to 
reach  the  top  of  the  walls  coidd  be  found.  The  bravest 
mounted,  and  fought  hand  to  hand  with  the  Saracens,  who 
were  confounded  \vith  such  rash  coiu'a2:e.  It  is  probable 
that  the  Crusaders  would  have  entered  Jerusalem  that  very 
day  if  they  had  had  the  necessary  instruments  and  machines; 
but  so  small  a  number  of  them  could  gain  the  top  of  the 
walls,  that  they  could  not  maintain  themselves  there.  Bra- 
very was  useless ;  Heaven  did  not  perform  the  miracles 
which  the  solitary  had  promised,  and  the  Saracens  at  length 
forced  the  assailants  to  retreat. 

The  Christians  returned  to  their  camp  deploring  their 
imprudence  and  credulity.  This  first  reverse  taught  them 
that  they  must  not  always  expect  prodigies,  and  that  before 
they  proceeded  further  they  must  construct  machines  of 
war.  But  it  was  very  diffici-dt  to  procure  the  necessary 
wood  in  a  country  of  barren  sands  and  arid  rocks.  Several 
detachments  were  sent  to  search  for  materials ;  and  chance 
discovered  to  one  of  them  some  large  beams,  which  Tancred 
caused  to  be  transported  to  the  camp.  They  demolished 
the  houses,  and  even  the  churches  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city 
which  had  not  been  given  up  to  the  flames,  and  every  avail- 
able bit  of  wood  that  had  escaped  the  ravages  of  the 
Saracens  was  employed  in  the  construction  of  machines. 

In  spite  of  their  discoveries  and  exertions,  the  progress  of 
the  siege  did  not  answer  to  the  impatience  of  the  Crusaders, 
nor  did  they  appear  likely  to  be  able  to  avert  the  evils  that 
threatened  them.     The  most  intense  heats  of  the  stunmer 


IIISTOIIT    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  209 

set  in  at  the  very  time  the  pilgrims  arrived  before  Jerusalem. 
A  scorching  sun  and  southern  vinds,  loaded  with  the  sands 
of  the  desert,  inflamed  the  horizon.  Plants  and  animals 
perished  ;  the  torrent  of  Kedron  was  dry,  and  all  the  cisterns 
had  been  filled  up  or  poisoned.*  Under  a  sun  of  fire,  and 
amidst  burning  and  arid  plains,  the  Christian  army  soon 
became  a  prey  to  all  the  horrors  of  thirst. 

The  fountain  of  Siloe,  which  only  flowed  at  inten^als, 
could  not  suffice  for  such  a  multitude.  A  skinful  of  fetid 
water,  brought  from  a  distance  of  three  leagues,  cost  as 
much  as  three  silver  deniers.  Overcome  by  thirst  and  heat, 
the  soldiers  turned  up  the  soil  with  their  swords,  and  bury- 
ing themselves  in  the  freshl3-moved  earth,  eagerly  carried 
to  their  lips  every  moist  clod  that  presented  itself  During 
the  day  they  looked  anxiously  for  the  night,  and  at  night 
longed  for  the  break  of  day,  in  the  constantly  disappointed 
hope  that  the  return  of  either  the  one  or  the  other  would 
bring  some  little  freshness,  or  a  few  drops  of  rain.  Every 
morning  they  were  seen  to  glue  their  parched  lips  to  the 
marbles  covered  with  dew.  During  the  heat  of  the  day  the 
most  robust  languished  beneath  their  tents,  seeming  not  to 
have  even  strength  left  to  implore  the  assistance  of  Heaven. 

The  knights  and  barons  were  not  at  all  exempt  from  the 
scourge  which  devoured  the  army,  and  many  of  them  ex- 
changed for  the  water  of  which  they  stood  in  daily  need,  the 
treasures  they  had  won  from  the  infidels.  "  Pity,  on  account 
of  this  extreme  thirst,"  says  the  old  translator  of  William 
of  Tyre,  "  was  not  so  much  due  to  tlie  foot-soldiers  as  the 
horsemen ;  the  foot-soldiers  could  be  contented  with  a  little, 
but  the  horsemen  could  only  supply  their  horses  -^-ith  drink 
at  great  expense.  As  to  the  beasts  of  bui-then,"  adds  the 
same  historian,  "  there  was  no  more  account  taken  of  them 
than  of  things  abeady  dead ;  they  were  allowed  to  stray 
away  in  the  fields,  where  they  died  for  want  of  water." 

In  this  general  misery  the  women  and  children  dragged 
their  exhausted  bodies  across  fields  and  plains,  seeking 
sometimes  a  spring  and  sometimes  shade,  neither  of  which 

*  An  admirable  picture  is  to  be  found  in  Tasso  of  this  drought,  which 
is  also  described  by  Robert  the  Monk,  Baldric,  Raymond  d'Agiles,  Albert 
d'Aix,  William  of  Tyre,  and  by  Gilles  or  Gilou,  in  his  Latin  poem  upon  the 
first  crusade. 


10  HISTORY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

existed.  Many  who  strayed  from  the  army  fell  into  the 
ambushes  of  the  Saracens,  and  lost  either  their  lives  or  their 
libert^^  Wlien  some  fortunate  pilgrims  discovered  a  spring 
or  a  cistern  in  a  remote  or  obscure  place,  they  concealed  it 
from  their  companions,  and  prevented  their  approach  to  it. 
Quarrels  of  a  violent  nature  broke  out  on  this  account  daily  ; 
and  not  unfrequently  the  Crusaders  drew  their  swords  for 
the  sake  of  a  little  muddy  water ;  in  short,  the  want  of  water 
was  so  insupportable  an  e^aL,  that  they  hardly  noticed  the 
scarcity  of  food.  The  intensity  of  thu'st  and  the  heat  of  the 
climate  made  them  forget  the  horrors  of  the  famine  which 
seemed  to  pursue  the  Christians  everj^where. 

If  the  besieged  had  at  this  period  made  a  sortie,  they 
would  have  easily  triumphed  over  the  Crusaders,  but  the 
latter  were  defended  by  the  remembrance  of  their  exploits  ; 
and  in  the  distress  to  which  they  were  now  reduced,  their 
name  alone  still  inspired  the  Saracens  with  dread.  The  Mus- 
sulmans likewise  might  entertain  the  belief  that  their  enemies 
could  not  long  resist  the  joint  calamities  of  famine  and 
thirst.  The  old  historians  here  employ  the  most  pathetic 
expressions  to  paint  the  frightful  misery  of  the  pilgrims. 
Abbot  Gruibert  even  goes  so  far  as  to  say  that  men  never 
suffered  so  many  e\'il3  to  obtain  benefits  which  were  not  of 
this  earth.  Amidst  such  calamities,  savs  Ea^Tuondd'Aonles, 
who  was  himself  at  the  siege  of  Jerusalem,  many  forgot  their 
Grod,  and  thought  no  longer  of  either  gaining  the  city,  or 
obtaining  the  divine  mercy.  The  remembrance  of  their  own 
country  increased  their  sufferings ;  and  so  great  was  their 
discouragement,  that  some  deserted  the  standards  of  the 
crusade  entirely,  and  fled  to  the  ports  of  Palestine  and  Syria 
to  wait  for  an  opportunity  of  returning  to  Europe. 

The  leaders  clearly  saw  there  was  no  other  remedy  for  the 
evils  the  army  endured  but  the  taking  of  Jerusalem  ;  and  yet 
the  labours  of  the  siege  went  on  very  slowly,  for  they  had 
neither  wood  enough  for  the  construction  of  machines,  nor 
workmen  \Nith  necessary  implements.  In  addition,  a  report 
was  current  that  a  formidable  army  had  left  Egypt  for  the 
purpose  of  relieving  the  city.  The  wisest  and  the  bravest 
were  beginning,  in  such  a  critical  situation,  to  despair  of  the 
success  of  the  enterprise,  when  assistance  was  afforded  them 
of  an  unexpected  kind. 


HISTOET   OF   THE    CEITSADES.  211 

They  learned  tliat  a  Genoese  fleet  liad  entered  the  port  of 
Jaffa,  laden  with  provisions  and  ammunition  of  all  sorts. 
This  news  spread  the  2^reatest  joy  through  the  Christian 
army,  and  a  body  of  three  hundred  men,  commanded  by 
Haymond  Pelet,  set  out  from  the  camp  to  meet  the  convoy, 
which  Heaven  appeared  to  have  sent  the  Crusaders  in  their 
misery.  This  detachment,  after  having  beaten  and  dispersed 
the  Saracens  they  met  on  their  passage,  entered  the  city  of 
Jaffa,  which,  being  abandoned  by  its  inhabitants,  was  occu- 
pied by  the  Genoese.  On  their  arrival,  the  Crusaders  learnt 
that  the  Christian  fleet  had  been  surprised  and  burnt  by 
that  of  the  infidels,  but  they  had  had  time  to  get  out  the 
pro^dsions  and  a  great  quantity  of  instruments  for  the  con- 
struction of  machines  of  war.  All  they  had  been  able  to 
save  was  transported  to  the  camp  of  the  Christians.  This 
convoy  arrived  under  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  followed  by  a 
great  number  of  Genoese  engineers  and  carpenters,  whose 
presence  greatly  revived  the  emulation  and  courage  of  the 
army. 

As  they  still  had  not  sufiicient  wood  for  the  construction 
of  the  machines,  a  Syrian  conducted  the  duke  of  jN^ormandy 
and  the  count  of  Flanders  to  a  moiuitain  situated  at  a  dis- 
tance of  thirty  miles  from  Jerusalem,  between  the  Valley  of 
Samaria  and  the  Yalley  of  Sechem.  There  the  Christians 
found  the  forest  of  which  Tasso  speaks  in  the  "  Jerusalem 
Delivered."*  The  trees  of  this  forest  were  neither  protected 
from  the  axe  of  the  Crusaders  by  the  enchantments  of 
Ismen  nor  the  arms  of  the  Saracens.  Oxen  shod  with  iron 
transported  them  in  triumph  before  Jerusalem. 

None  of  the  leaders,  except  Raymond  of  Thoulouse,  had 

*  Maimbourg  does  not  seem  to  credit  the  existence  of  this  forest,  and 
says  that  it  is  an  invention  of  Tasso's.  He  might  have  read  in  William 
of  Tyre  this  sentence,  which  is  not  at  all  equivocal : — Casu  afFuit  quidam 
fidelis  indigena  natione  Syrus,  qui  in  valles  quasdam  secretiores,  sex  aut 
septem  ab  urbe  distantes  milliaribus,  quosdam  de  principibus  direxit,  ubi 
arbores,  etsi  non  ad  conceptum  opus  aptas  penitus,  tamen  ad  aliquem 
modum  proceras  invenerunt  plures.  Raoul  de  Caen  .is  much  more 
positive  and  explicit  than  William  of  Tyre ;  this  is  the  way  in  which  he 
expresses  himself : — Lucus  erat  in  montibus  et  montes  ad  Hyerusalem 
remoti  ei ;  quae  modo  Neapolis,  olim  Sebasta,  ante  Sychar  ddctus  est, 
propriores,  adhuc  ignota  nostratibus  via,  nunc  Celebris  et  ferme  peregre 
nantium  unica. — Had.  Cad.  cap.  121. 

Vol.  I.— 11 


212  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CEIJSADES. 

sufficient  money  to  pay  for  the  labours  they  had  com- 
manded, but  the  zeal  and  charity  of  the  pilgrims  came  to 
their  assistance.  jMany  offered  the  remains  of  the  spoil 
taken  fiKjm  the  enemy ;  the  knights  and  barons  themselves 
became  laborious  workmen ;  and  every  arm  was  employed, 
and  evervthmg  in  motion  throughout  the  army.  The  women, 
the  children,  even  the  sick,  shared  the  toils  of  the  soldiers. 
"VYhilst  the  more  robust  were  engaged  in  the  construction  of 
rams,  catapultas,  and  covered  galleries,  others  fetched  water 
in  skins  from  the  fountain  of  Elpira,  on  the  road  to  Damas- 
cus, or  from  a  ri^TLlet  which  flowed  beyond  Bethlehem, 
towards  the  desert  of  St.  John.  Some  prepared  the  skins 
that  were  to  be  stretched  over  the  machines  to  render  them 
fire-proof,  whilst  others  traversed  the  plains  and  neigh- 
bouring mountains  to  collect  branches  of  the  olive,  the  fig,* 
and  some  other  trees  of  the  country,  to  make  hurdles  and 
faggots. 

Although  the  Christians  had  still  much  to  suffer  from 
thirst  and  the  heat  of  the  climate,  the  hope  of  soon  seeing 
the  end  of  their  troubles  gave  them  strength  to  support 
them.  The  preparations  for  the  attack  were  pressed  on  with 
incredible  acti\-ity ;"  every  day  formidable  machines  appeared, 
threatening  the  ramparts  of  the  Saracens.  The  construction 
of  them  was  directed  by  Graston  of  Beam,  of  whose  skill 
and  bravery  historians  make  great  boast. t  Among  these 
machines  were  three  enormous  towers  of  a  new  structure, 
each  of  which  had  three  stages,  the  first  for  the  workmen 
who  directed  the  movements  of  it,  and  the  second  and  third 
for  the  warriors  who  were  to  make  the  assault.  These  three 
rolling  fortresses  were  higher  than  the  walls  of  the  besieged 
citj-X     At  the  top  was  fixed  a  kind  of  drawbridge,  which 

*  A  sufficiently  remarkable  circumstance  is,  that  the  shrub  which  grows 
most  freely  in  the  territory  of  Ji-rusaleia,  and  which  the  Crusaders  must 
have  used,  was  the  rhamnus,  a  thorny  shrub,  of  which,  if  we  give  faith  to 
the  opinion  of  Pierre  Belon,  was  formed  the  crown  of  thorns  of  Christ. 
Christopher  Hasselquoit,  it  is  true,  is  not  of  this  opinion,  and  pretends 
that  the  crown  of  thorns  v.  as  of  the  shrub  na?cba. 

•j"  Quemdam  egregiura  at  magnificum  virum,  dominum  videlicet  Gas- 
tonem  de  Beam,  operi  prefecerunt — Will.  Tyren.  lib.  viii.  cap.  10. 
Raymond  d'Agiles  and  Abbot  Guibert  speak  also  of  Gaston  de  Beam. 

X  The  chevalier  de  Felart,  in  his  treaty  on  The  Attack  of  Places,  at 
the  end  of  his  commentary  upon  Polybius,  speaks  of  the  tower  of  Godfrey, 


HISTORY   or    THE    CRUSADES.  213 

could  be  let  down  on  the  ramparts,  and  present  a  road  by 
which  to  penetrate  into  the  place. 

But  these  powerful  means  of  attack  were  not  the  only 
ones  which  were  to  second  the  efforts  of  the  Crusaders.  The 
religious  enthusiasm  which  had  already  performed  so  many 
prodigies  was  again  to  augment  their  ardour  and  confidence 
m  victory.  The  clergy  spread  themselves  through  all  the 
quarters  of  the  army,  exhorting  the  pilgrims  to  penitence 
and  concord.  Misery,  which  almost  always  engenders  com- 
plaints and  murmiu's,  had  soured  their  hearts,  and  produced 
division  among  the  leaders  and  the  soldiers,  who  at  other 
times  had  disputed  for  cities  and  treasures,  but  for  whom  then 
the  most  common  things  had  become  objects  of  jealousy  and 
quarrels.  The  solitary  from  the  Mount  of  Olives  added  his 
exhortations  to  those  of  the  clergy,  and  addressing  himself 
to  the  princes  and  people:  "  You  who  are  come,"  said  he, 
"  from  the  regions  of  the  West  to  worship  the  God  of 
armies,  love  one  another  as  brothers,  and  sanctify  yourselves 
by  repentance  and  good  works.  If  you  obey  the  laws  of 
God,  he  will  render  you  masters  of  the  holy  city ;  if  you 
resist  him,  all  his  anger  will  fall  upon  you."  The  solitary 
advised  the  Crusaders  to  march  round  Jerusalem,  invoking 
the  mercy  and  protection  of  Heaven. 

The  pilgrims,  persuaded  that  the  gates  of  the  city  were 
not  less  likely  to  be  opened  by  devotion  than  bravery,  lis- 
tened with  docility  to  the  exhortations  of  the  solitary,  and 
were  all  eager  to  follow  his  counsel,  which  they  regarded  as 
the  language  of  God  himself.  After  a  rigorous  fast  of  three 
days,  they  issued  from  their  quarters  armed,  and  marched 
barefooted  and  bareheaded  around  the  walls  of  the  holy  city. 
They  were  preceded  by  their  priests  clothed  in  white,  carry- 
ing images  of  the  saints,  and  singing  psalms  and  holy  songs. 
The  ensigns  were  displayed,  and  the  cymbals  and  trumpets 
sounded  afar.  It  was  thus  that  the  Hebrews  had  formerly 
marched  round  Jericho,  whose  walls  had  crumbled  away  at 
the  soimd  of  their  instruments. 

The  Crusaders  set  out  from  the  Valley  of  Eephraim,  which 


whicli  he  improperly  calls  the  tower  of  Frederick  the  First  of  Jerusalem. 
He  gives  a  detailed  and,  very  exact  description  of  this  tower,  which  is  like- 
wise well  described  by  contemporary  historians. 


214  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

faces  Calvary  ;  they  advanced  to"^ards  tlie  north,  and  saluted, 
on  entering*  into  the  Valley  of  Jehoshaphat,  the  tombs  of 
Marv,  St.  Stephen,  and  the  first  elect  of  God.  On  con- 
tinuins:  then'  march  towards  the  Mount  of  Olives,  thev  con- 
templated  with  much  respect  the  grotto  in  which  Christ 
sweated  blood,  and  the  spot  where  the  Sa\"iour  wept  over 
Jerusalem.  AYhen  they  arrived  at  the  summit  of  the  moun- 
tain, the  most  imposing  spectacle  presented  itself  to  their 
eyes.  Towards  the  east  were  the  plaiQs  of  Jericho,  the 
shores  of  the  Dead  Sea  and  the  Jordan ;  and  to  the  west 
thev  saw  at  their  feet  the  holv  citv  and  its  territory,  covered 
with  sacred  ruins.  Assembled  on  the  very  spot  whence 
Clu-ist  ascended  into  heaven,  and  where  they  still  sought  for 
the  vestiges  of  his  steps,  they  listened  to  the  exhortations  of 
the  priests  and  bishops. 

Arnold  de  Eohes,  chaplain  to  the  duke  of  iS'ormandy, 
addressed  them  in  a  pathetic  discourse,  conjuring  them  to 
redouble  their  zeal  and  perseverance.  AYhen  terminating 
his  discourse,  he  turned  towards  Jerusalem :  "  Tou  see," 
said  he  to  them,  ''  the  heritage  of  Christ  trampled  under- 
foot by  the  impious ;  here  is,  at  last,  the  worthy  reward  of 
all  your  labours ;  here  are  the  places  in  which  G-od  will 
pardon  all  your  sins,  and  will  bless  all  your  victories."  At 
the  voice  of  the  orator,  who  pointed  out  to  them  the  church 
of  the  Eesurrection  and  the  rocks  of  Calvary,  ready  to 
receive  them,  the  defenders  of  the  cross  humbled  themselves 
before  G-od,  and  kept  their  eyes  fixed  upon  Jerusalem. 

As  Arnold  exhorted  them,  in  the  name  of  Christ,  to  forget 
all  injui'ies,  and  to  love  one  another,  Tancred  and  Raymond, 
who  had  had  long  and  serious  disputes,  embraced  each  other 
in  the  presence  of  the  whole  Christian  army.  The  soldiers 
and  leaders  followed  their  example.  The  most  rich  promised 
to  comfort  the  poor  by  their  alms,  and  to  support  the 
orphans  of  the  bearers  of  the  cross.  All  forgot  their  fatal 
discords,  and  swore  to  remain  faithful  to  the  precepts  of 
evangelical  charity. 

Whilst  the  Crusaders  were  thus  giving  themselves  up  to 
transports  of  devotion  and  piety,  the  Saracens  assembled  on 
the  ramparts  of  Jerusalem,  raised  crosses  high  in  the  air, 
and  treated  them  with  all  kinds  of  outrages,  at  the  same 
time  insulting  the  ceremonies  of  the  Christians  bj  their 


HISTOEY    or    THE    CEUSADES.  215 

gestures  and  theii'  clamours.*  "Tou  hear  them,"  said  Peter  the 
Hermit ;  "  you  hear  the  menaces  and  the  blasphemies  against 
the  true  God ;  swear  to  defend  Jesus  Christ,  a  prisoner,  and 
crucified  a  second  time  by  the  infidels.  Tou  see  him  who 
expires  afresh  upon  Calvary  for  the  redemption  of  your 
sins."t  At  these  words  the  cenobite  was  interrupted  by 
the  groans  and  cries  of  indignation  which  arose  on  all  parts 
against  the  infidels.  "  Yes,  I  swear  by  your  piety,"  con- 
tinued the  orator,  "  I  swear  by  your  arms,  that  the  reign  of 
the  impious  is  near  its  end.  The  army  of  the  Lord  has 
only  to  appear,  and  all  that  vain  mass  of  Mussulmans  will 
disperse  like  a  shadow.  To-day  they  are  full  of  pride  and 
insolence,  to-morrow  they  shall  be  frozen  with  fear,  and  shall 
fall  motionless  before  you,  like  the  guardians  of  the  sepul- 
chre, who  felt  their  arms  escape  from  their  hands,  and  fell 
dead  with  fright,  when  an  earthquake  announced  the  pre- 
sence of  a  God  on  that  Calvary  on  which  you  are  going 
to  mount  the  breach.  Still  a  few  moments,  and  these 
towers,  the  last  bulwark  of  the  infidels,  shall  be  the  asylum 
of  the  Christians ;  these  mosques,  which  stand  upon  Chris- 
tian ruins,  shall  serve  as  temples  for  the  true  God,  and 
Jerusalem  shall  only  henceforward  hear  the  praises  of  the 
Lord." 

At  these  last  words  of  Peter  the  most  lively  transports 
broke  forth  among  the  Christians  ;  they  embraced,  shedding 
tears,  and  exhorting  each  other  to  support  the  evds  and  the 
fatigues  of  which  they  should  so  soon  receive  the  glorious 
reward.  The  Christians  at  length  descended  the  Mount  of 
Olives  to  return  to  their  camp,  and,  taking  their  route 
southward,  they  saluted  on  their  right  the  tomb  of  David,  and 
passed  close  to  the  pool  of  Siloe,  where  Christ  restored  sight 
to  the  man  born  blind.     They  perceived,  further  on,  the 

*  Cruces  fixerunt,  super  quas  aut  spuebant,  aut  in  oculis  omnium 
niingere  non  abhorrebant. — Ab.  Aq.  lib.  vi. 

f  See,  for  this  procession,  Baldric,  bishop  of  Dol.  lib.  iv.  ;  Accolte, 
lib.  iv. ;  Albert  d^Aix,  lib.  vi.  ;  William  of  Tyre,  lib.  vii.  It  cannot 
be  doubted  that  the  leaders  caused  this  procession  to  be  made  round 
Jerusalem,  in  order  that  the  sif^ht  of  so  many  places  should  arouse  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  Crusaders.  We  ii  ust  regret  that  Tasso,  who  speaks 
of  this  procession,  has  scarcely  said  anything  of  ths  places  the  Christians 
\isited;  these  details  would  have  furnished  poetical  beauties,  without  in 
anything  departing  from  the  exactitude  of  history. 


216  IIISTOET    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

niins  of  the  palaces  of  Judali,  aud  marclied  along  the  de- 
clmty  of  Mount  Sion,  where  other  remembrances  arose 
before  them  to  add  to  their  enthusiasm.  Towards  evening, 
the  Christian  arm}'  returned  to  tlieir  quarters,  repeating  these 
words  of  the  prophet:  The  nations  of  the  West  shall  fear 
the  Lord ;  and  the  nations  of  the  East  shall  see  his  glory. 
"WTien  thev  had  regained  their  camp,  the  greater  part  of  the 
pilgrims  passed  the  night  in  prayer ;  the  leaders  and  the 
soldiers  confessed  their  sins  at  the  feet  of  their  priests, 
and  received  their  God,  whose  promises  filled  them  with 
confidence  and  hope. 

AVhilst  these  things  were  passing  in  the  Christian  camp, 
the  most  profound  silence  reigned  over  the  walls  of  Jerusa- 
lem ;  nothing  was  heard  but  the  voices  of  the  men  who, 
from  hour  to  hour,  from  the  tops  of  the  mosques  of  the  city, 
called  the  ^lussulmans  to  prayer.  The  infidels  came  in 
crowds  to  their  temples  to  implore  the  protection  of  their 
prophet,  and  swore  by  the  mysterious  stone  of  Jacob  to 
defend  a  city  which  they  called  the  House  of  God.  The 
besieged  and  the  besiegers  were  stimidated  by  an  equal 
ardour  to  fight  and  to  shed  their  blood,  the  former  to  pre- 
serve, and  the  latter  to  conquer  a  city  which  both  held 
sacred.  The  hatred  whicli  animated  them  was  so  violent, 
that  during  the  whole  siege  no  Mussulman  deputy  came 
into  the  Christian  camp,  ngr  did  the  Christiana  deign 
to  summon  the  garrison  to  surrender.  Between  silch 
enemies  the  shock  must  necessarily  be  terrible,  and  the 
victory  implacable. 

The  leaders  of  the  Christian  armv  being  assembled  to 
decide  upon  the  day  for  attacking  the  city,  it  was  resolved 
to  take  advantage  of  the  enthusiasm  of  the  pilgrims,  which 
was  at  its  height,  and  to  press  forward  the  assault,  the  pre- 
parations for  which  were  rapidly  going  on.  As  the  Saracens 
had  raised  a  great  number  of  machines  on  the  sides  of  the 
city  most  threatened  by  the  Christians,  it  was  agreed  that 
they  should  change  the  dispositions  of  the  siege,  and  that 
the  principal  attack  should  be  directed  towards  the  points 
where  the  enemy  had  made  the  least  preparations  for 
defence. 

During  the  night  Grodfrey  removed  his  quarters  eastward, 
near  to  the  gate  of  Cedar,  and  not  far  from  the  valley  m 


UiSTOllY    or    THE    CIlUSADErf,  217 

which  Titus  v/as  encamped  when  his  soldiers  penetrated  into 
the  galleries  of  the  temple.  The  rolling  tower,  and  the 
other  machines  of  war  which  the  duke  of  Lorraine  had 
caused  to  be  constructed,  were  transported  with  incredible 
difficulty  in  face  of  the  walls  he  intended  to  attack.  Tan- 
cred  and  the  two  Roberts  got  ready  their  machines,  between 
the  gate  of  Damascus  and  the  angular  tower,  which  was 
afterwards  called  the  toiver  of  Tancred.* 

AVlien  the  Saracens,  at  daybreak,  saw  these  new  disposi- 
tions, they  were  seized  witli  astonishment  and  affright.  The 
Crusaders  might  have  taken  profitable  advantage  of  the 
alarm  which  this  change  created  in  the  enemy,  but  upon 
steep  ground  it  was  difficult  to  bring  the  towers  up  close  to 
the  walls.  Raymond  in  particular,  who  was  charged  with 
the  attaclc  on  the  south,  found  himself  separated  from  the 
rampart  by  a  ravine,  which  it  was  necessary  to  have  filled 
up.  He  immediately  made  it  known,  by  a  herald-at-arms, 
that  he  would  pay  a  denier  to  every  person  who  should  cast 
three  stones  into  it.  A  crowd  of  people  instantly  flew  to 
second  the  eftbrts  of  his  soldiers ;  nor  could  the  darts  and 
arrows,  which  were  hurled  like  hail  from  the  ramparts,  at  all 
relax  the  ardour  and  zeal  of  the  assailants.  At  length,  at 
the  end  of  the  third  day,  all  was  finished,  and  the  leaders 
gave  the  signal  for  a  general  attack. 

On  Thursday,  the  14th  of  July,  1099,  as  soon  as  day  ap- 
peared, the  clarions  sounded  in  the  camp  of  the  Christians  ; 
all  the  Crusaders  flew  to  arms  ;  all  the  machines  were  in 
motion  at  once  ;  the  stone-machines  and  mangonels  vomited 
showers  of  flints,  whilst  under  the  cover  of  tortoises  and 
galleries,  the  rams  were  brought  close  to  the  walls.  The 
archers  and  cross-bo\vmen  kept  up  a  continual  discharge 
against  the  rampart ;  whilst  the  most  brave  planted  their 
ladders  in  places  where  the  wall  seemed  to  offer  least  resist- 

*  Raymond  d'Agiles  says  that  Godfrey's  tower  was  transplanted  by 
night  a  mile  from  the  spot  where  it  had  been  constructed  ;  which  leads  us 
to  believe  that  the  principal  attack  was  directed  near  the  gate  of  Cedar, 
towards  the  entrance  of  the  Valley  of  Jehoshaphat.  For  the  rest,  we  must 
regret  that  M.  de  Chateaubriand,  who  has  written  a  very  interesting 
dissertation  upon  the  military  positions  of  Tasso,  has  not  thrown  light 
upon  the  obscurities  of  the  historians  which  present  themselves  in  this 
portion  of  their  accounts  of  the  siege. 


218  HISTOET    or    THE    CErSADES, 

ance.  On  the  north,  east,  and  south  of  the  city,  the  three 
towers  advanced  towards  the  ramparts,  amidst  the  tumult 
and  shouts  of  the  soldiers  and  the  workmen.  Godfrey 
appeared  on  the  highest  platform  of  his  wooden  fortress, 
accompanied  by  his  brother  Eustace  and  Baldwin  du  Bourg. 
He  animated  his  people  by  his  example  ;  and  every  javelin 
that  he  cast,  say  the  historians  of  the  times,  carried  death 
among  the  Saracen  host.  Ea^miond,  Tancred,  the  duke  of 
Xormandv,  and  the  count  of  Flanders  fought  amidst  their 
soldiers ;  whilst  the  knights  and  men-at-arms,  animated  by 
the  same  zeal  as  their  principal  chiefs,  flew  from  place  to 
place  where  danger  called  them. 

Xothing  could  equal  the  impetuosity  of  the  first  shock  of 
the  Christians  :  but  thev  were  evers-vN'here  met  by  an  obsti- 
nate  resistance.  Arrows,  javelins,  boiling  oil,  G-reek  fire, 
fourteen  machines  which  the  besieged  had  now  time  to 
oppose  to  those  of  their  enemies,  repulsed  on  all  sides  the 
attacks  and  the  efforts  of  the  assailants.  The  infidels 
issuing  through  a  breach  made  in  their  rampart,  attempted 
to  burn  the  machines  of  the  besiegers,  and  carried  disorder 
among  the  Christian  ranks.  Towards  the  end  of  the  day, 
the  towers  of  Godfrey  and  Tancred  could  no  longer  be 
moved,  whilst  that  of  Eaymond  fell  to  pieces.  The  combat 
had  lasted  twelve  hours,  without  victory  ha-ving  inclined  to 
the  side  of  the  Crusaders,  when  night  came  to  put  a  tem- 
porary end  to  the  efforts  of  both  parties.  The  Christians 
returned  to  their  camp  trembling  with  rage  and  grief;  the 
leaders,  but  particularly  the  tv\'o  Eoberts,  lamenting  tJiat 
God  Jiad  not  yet  tliouglit  tliem  icorthy  of  entering  ijito  his 
holy  city,  and  adoring  the  tomb  of  his  Son* 

The  night  was  spent  anxiously  on  both  sides,  each  deplor- 
ing their  losses,  and  trembling  at  the  idea  of  others  they 
were  likely  to  sustain.  The  Saracens  dreaded. a  surprise; 
the  Christians  were  afraid  that  the  Saracens  would  bum  the 
machines  they  had  left  under  the  walls.     The  besieged  were 

*  This  circumstance  is  thus  related  by  Abbot  Guibert : — Est  etiam 
toihi  non  inferiori  relatione  compertum,  Robertum  Normandise  comitem 
Roberturoque  alteram  Flandriarum  principem,  junctis  pariter  convenisse 
moeroribus,  et  se  cum  fletibus  uberrimis  conclamasse  misemmos,  quos 
suae  adoratione  crucis,  et  visione,  immo  veneratione  sepulchri,  tantopere 
Jesus  Dominus  judicaret  indignos. — Lib.  vii.  cap.  6. 


HISTORY    or    THE    CRUSADES.  219 

employed  without  intermission  in  repairing  the  breaches 
made  in  the  walls ;  whilst  the  besiegers  were  equally  active 
in  putting  their  machines  in  a  state  of  service  against  a 
fresh  attack.  The  following  day  brought  a  renewal  of  the 
same  dangers  and  the  same  combats  that  the  preceding  one 
had  witnessed.  The  chiefs  endeavoured  by  their  speeches 
to  raise  the  courage  of  the  Crusaders ;  whilst  the  priests 
and  bishops  indefatigably  visited  the  tents  of  the  soldiers, 
promising  them  the  assistance  of  Heaven.  The  Christian 
army,  filled  with  renewed  confidence  in  victory,  appeared 
under  arms,  and  marched  in  profound  silence  towards  the 
points  of  attack,  whilst  the  clergy  walked  in  procession  round 
the  city. 

The  first  shock  was  impetuous  and  terrible.  The  Chris- 
tians were  indignant  at  the  resistance  they  had  met  with  the 
day  before,  and  fought  with  fury.  The  besieged,  who  had 
learnt  the  approach  of  an  Egyptian  army,  were  animated  by 
the  hope  of  victory,  and  their  ramparts  were  protected  by 
machines  of  a  formidable  description.  .  The  mutually  dis- 
charged javelins  hissed  on  all  sides  ;  whilst  stones  and  beams 
launched  by  both  Christians  and  infidels  were  dashed  against 
each  other  in  the  air  with  a  frightful  noise,  and  fell  upon  the 
assailants.  From  the  heiglit  of  the  towers,  the  Mussidmans 
unceasingly  hurled  lighted  torches  and  fire-pots.  The  wooden 
fortresses  of  the  Christians  approached  the  walls  amidst  a 
conflagration  which  was  increasing  on  all  parts  around  them. 
The  infidels  directed  their  attacks  particularly  against  the 
tower  of  Grodfrey,  upon  the  summit  of  which  shone  a  cross 
of  gold,  the  sight  of  which  provoked  their  utmost  fury. 
The  duke  of  Lorraine  saw  one  of  his  esquires  and  many  of 
his  soldiers  fall  by  his  side ;  but  although  himself  a  mark 
for  all  the  arrows  of  the  enemy,  he  fought  on  amidst  the 
dead  and  the  wounded,  and  never  ceased  to  exhort  his  com- 
panions to  redouble  their  courage  and  ardour.  The  count 
of  Thoulouse,  who  attacked  the  city  on  the  south  side, 
brought  up  all  his  machines  to  bear  against  those  of  the 
Mussulmans:  he  had  to  contend  against  the  emir  of  Jeru- 
salem, who  animated  his  people  by  his  words,  and  appeared 
upon  the  walls  surrounded  by  the  elite  of  the  Egyptian  sol- 
diery. Towards  the  north,  Tancred  and  the  two  Roberts 
stood  motionless  at  the  head  of  their  battalions,  on  their 


220  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

rolling  fortress,  impatient  to  employ  the  lance  and  sword. 
Already  their  rams  had,  upon  several  points,  shaken  the 
■walls,  behind  which  the  Saracens  in  close  ranks  presented 
themselves  as  a  last  rampart  against  the  attacks  of  the 
Christians. 

In  the  midst  of  the  conflict  two  female  magicians  appeared 
upon  the  ramparts  of  the  city,  calling,  as  the  historians  say, 
upon  the  elements  and  the  infernal  powers.  They  could 
not,  however,  themselves  avoid  the  death  which  they  invoked 
upon  the  Christians,  and  fell  dead  beneath  a  shower  of  arrows 
and  stones.*  Two  Eg^-ptian  emissaries,  sent  from  Ascalon 
to  exhort  the  besieged  to  persist  in  their  defence,  were  sur- 
prised by  the  Crusaders  as  they  were  endeavouring  to  enter 
the  citv.  One  of  them  fell  covered  with  wounds,  and  the 
other,  having  revealed  the  secret  of  his  mission,  was,  by 
means  of  a  machine,  hurled  upon  the  ramparts  where  the 
Saracens  were  fighting.  But  the  combat  had  now  lasted 
half  the  day,  without  affording  the  Crusaders  any  hope  of 
carrying  the  place:  All  their  machines  were  on  fire,  and 
they  wanted  water,  but  more  particularly  vinegar,t  which 
alone  will  extinguish  the  species  of  fire  employed  by  the 

*  As  Tasso  often  employs  magic,  we  have  sought  with  care  for  all  that 
relates  to  this  species  of  the  marvellous  in  the   contemporary  historians. 
That   which   we   have  just   quoted   from   William   of  Tyre,   is  the  only 
instance  we  have  been  able  to  find.     Some  historians  likewise  have  said 
that  the  mother  of  Kerboghawjis  a  sorceress,  and  that  she  had  foretold  to 
her  son  the  defeat  of  Antioch.     It  is  in  vain  to  seek  for  similar  incidents 
in  the  history  of  the  first  crusade.     We   ought  to  add   that  magic  was 
much  less  in  vogue  in  the  twelfth  century  than  in  that  in  which   Tasso 
lived.     The  Crusaders  were  no  doubt  very  superstitious,  but  their  super- 
stitions were  not  attached  to  little  things  ;   they  were  struck  by  the  phe- 
nomena they  saw  in  the  heavens  ;   they  believed  in   the  appearance  of 
saints,  and  in  revelations  made  by  God  himself,   but  not  in   magicians. 
Ideas  of  magic  came  to  us  a  long  time  afterwards,   in  the   fifteenth  and 
sixteenth  centuries.     The  chroniclers  of  that  period,  who  speak  of  anterior 
facts,  fill  their  recitals  with  whimsical  and  ridiculous  fables,  such  as  are 
not  to  be  found  in  more  ancient  authors.     We   must  not  judge  of  the 
middle  ages  by  the  chronicles  of  Robert  Gaguin,   or  by  those  of  Arch- 
bishop Turpin,  the  work  of  a  monk  of  the  twelfth  century  ;  stiU  less  by 
the  romances  of  the  same  period. 

f  We  report  this  circumstance  here,  in  order  to  give  an  idea  of  the  fire 
which  was  launched  against  the  Christians.  Albert  d'Aix  expresses  him- 
self thus  : — Qualiter  ignis,  aqua  inextinguibUis  soloaceti  liquore  restingui 
valeat. — Alb.  Aq.  lib.  vi.  cap.  18. 


IlISTOllY    OE    TUE    CRUSADES.  221 

besieged.  In  vain  tlie  bravest  exposed  themselves  to  the 
greatest  dangers  to  prevent  the  destruction  of  the  wooden 
towers  and  the  rams  ;  tliej  fell,  buried  under  the  ruins,  and 
the  flames  consumed  e\en.  their  bucklers  and  vestments. 
Many  of  the  most  intrepid  warriors  had  met  with  death  at 
the  foot  of  the  ramparts  ;  a  great  number  of  those  who  were 
upon  the  towers  had  been  disabled  ;  whilst  the  rest,  covered 
with  sweat  and  dust,  fatigued  by  the  weight  of  their  arms 
and  the  heat,  began  to  lose  courage.  Tiie  Saracens,  who 
perceived  this,  uttered  loud  cries  of  joy.  Among  their 
blasphemies  they  reproached  the  Christians  with  worshipping 
a  God  who  was  not  able  to  defend  them.  The  assailants 
deplored  their  fate,  and,  believing  themselves  abandoned  by 
Jesus  Christ,  remained  motionless  on  the  field  of  battle. 

But  the  combat  was  destined  soon  to  change  its  appear- 
ance. All  at  once  the  Crusaders  saw  a  knight  appear  upon 
the  Mount  of  Olives,  waving  his  buckler,  and  giving  the 
Christian  army  the  signal  for  entering  the  city.*  Grodfrey 
and  Eaymond,  who  perceived  him  first  and  at  the  same  time, 
cried  out  aloud  that  St.  George  was  come  to  the  help  of  the 
Christians !  The  tumult  of  the  fight  allowed  neither  reflec- 
tion nor  examination,  the  sight  of  the  celestial  horseman 
fired  the  besiegers  with  new  ardour ;  and  they  returned  to 
the  charge.  Women,  even  children  and  the  sick,  mingled  in 
the  melee,  brmging  water,  food,  and  arms,  and  joined  their 
eflforts  to  those  of  the  soldiers  to  move  the  rolling  towers, 
the  terror  of  the  enemy,  nearer  the  ramparts.f  That  of 
Godfrey,  in  spite  of  a  terrible  discharge  of  stones,  arrows, 
and  Greek  fire,  advanced  near  enough  to  have  its  draw- 
bridge lowered  upon  the  walls.  Flaming  darts  flew,  at  the 
same  time,  in  showers  against  the  machines  of  the  besieged, 
and  against  the  sacks  of  straw,  and  hay,  and  bags  of  wool 
which  protected  the  last  walls  of  the  city.  The  wind  assisted 
the  fire,  and  drove  the  flames  upon  the  Saracens,  who,  enve- 
loped in  masses  of  flame  and  smoke,  retreated  before  the  lances 

*  This  is  repeated  by  William  of  Tyre  and  some  other  writers. 
Raymond  d'Agiles  very  naively  says  :  Quis  autem  miles  ille  fuerit  cog- 
noscere  non  potuimus. — Raym.  d  Ag.  p.  171,  Bongars. 

t  Matthew  of  Edessa  says  that  Godfrey  used  in  this  assault  the  sword 
of  Vespasian,  which  thus  assisted,  for  the  third  time,  in  the  destruction  of 
Jerusalem.     No  Latin  historian  mentions  it. 


222  HISTOET    OF    THE    CKUSADES. 

and  swords  of  the  Crusaders.  Godfrey,  preceded  by  the  . 
two  brothers  Lethalde  and  Engelbert  of  Toumai,  and  fol- 
lowed by  Baldwin  du  Bouro^,  Eustace,  Eeimbault  Creton,* 
Grunher,  Bernard  de  St.  Yallier,  and  Amenjou  d'Albret, 
rushes  upon  the  enemy,  pursues  them,  and  upon  the  track 
of  their  footsteps  enters  Jerusalem.  All  the  brave  men 
who  fought  with  him  on  the  platform  of  the  tower,  followed 
their  intrepid  chief,  penetrated  with  him  into  the  streets, 
and  massacred  all  they  met  in  their  passage.  At  the  same 
time  a  report  was  spread  in  the  Christian  army  that  the 
holr  pontiif  Adhemar,  and  several  Crusaders  who  had  fallen 
during  the  siege,  had  appeared  at  the  head  of  the  assailants, 
and  had  imfurled  the  standard  of  the  Cross  upon  the  towers 
of  Jerusalem.  Tancred  and  the  two  Eoberts,  animated  by 
this  account,  made  fresh  efforts,  and  at  last  threw  them- 
selves into  the  place,  accompanied  by  Hugh  de  St.  Paul, 
Gerard  de  Eoussillon,  Louis  de  Mouson,  Conon  and  Lam- 
bert de  Montaisru.  and  Gaston  de  Beam.  A  crowd  of  heroes 
followed  them  closely ;  some  entering  by  a  half-opened 
breach ;    others  scaling  the  walls  with  ladders  ;   and  many 

•  Oderic  Vital  attributes  to  Reimbault  Creton  of  Cambresis  the  glory 
of  having  first  entered  Jerusalem.     Other  historians  only  name  him  among 
those  who  followed  most  closely  the  steps  of  the  brothers  Lethalde  and 
Engelbert  of  Toumai.     This  is  the  text  of  Orderic  Vital : — Reimboldus 
Creton   qui  primus  in  expugnatione  Jerusalem  ingressus  est,  &c.     The 
descendants  of   Reimbolt  Creton   bore  indifferently  up  to  the  sixteenth 
century  the  names  of  Creton  and  Estourmel.     This  family  preserved  as 
its  device  these  words,   '^Vaillant  svr  la  Crete  C^  and  La  Moriiere,  the 
historian  of  1  icardy  under  Louis  XIIL,  speaks  of  them  in  these  terms  : 
"  It  adds  not  a  little  to  the  lustre  of  this  family,  that  it  is  acknowledged 
that  they  owe  the  origin  of  their  arms   to  the  first  crusade  which  the 
Christians  made  for  the  recovery  of  the  Holy  Land,  bestowed  by  the  band 
of  Godfrey  of  Bouillon,  king  of  Jerusalem,  who,   to  do  honour  to  the 
valour  of  the   sieur   d'Estourmei,    whom   he  had  seen  bear  himself  so 
valiantly  at  the  taking  of  that  city,  made  him  a  present  of  a  crenated 
cross  of  silver,  in  which  was  enchased  a  piece  of  the  true  cross."     This 
precious  reliquan*  was  passed  down  from  generation  to  generation  to  the 
eldest  sons  of  this  house.     In  the   reign   of  Louis   XIIL    the  marquis 
d'Hautefort  having  espoused  the  only  daughter  of  Antoine  d'Estourmei, 
cordon  bleu,  and  first  equerry  to  madame  la  duchesse  d'Orleans,  pre- 
tended that  this  piece  of  the  true  cross  made  a  part  of  the  inheritance. 
This   discussion   was  submitted  to  the  arbitration    of  the    president  of 
Mesmes,  who  decided  that  the  cross  was  to  revert  to  the  branch  of  the 
house  of  Estourmel,  which  possesses  it  to  this  day. 


HISTOET    or    THE    CRUSADES.  228 

leaping  from  the  tops  of  the  wooden  towers.  The  Mussul- 
mans fled  on  all  sides,  and  Jerusalem  resounded  with  the 
cry  of  victory  of  the  Crusaders, — "  It  is  the  will  of  God  !  It 
is  the  will  of  God  /  "  =* 

The  companions  of  Godfrey  and  Tancred  beat  the  gate  of 
St.  Stephen  to  pieces  with  axes,  and  the  city  was  at  once 
thrown  open  to  the  crowd  of  Crusaders,  who  pressed  for- 
ward and  contended  for  the  honour  of  dealing  the  last  blow 
to  the  conquered  infidels. 

Raymond  alone  still  experienced  some  resistance.  Warned 
of  the  success  of  the  Christians,  by  the  clashing  of  arms, 
and  the  tumult  he  heard  in  the  city,  he  endeavoured  still 
further  to  animate  his  soldiers.  The  latter,  impatient  to 
join  their  companions,  abandoned  then*  tower  and  machines, 
which  they  could  no  longer  move.  They  planted  ladders 
and  swords,  by  the  means  of  which  they  mounted  the  ram- 
part, whither  they  were  preceded  by  the  count  of  Thoulouse, 
^Raymond  Pelet,  the  bishop  of  Bira,  the  count  de  Die,  and 
William  de  Sabran.  Nothing  now  could  stop  their  progress ; 
they  dispersed  the  Saracens,  who  with  their  emir  had  taken 
refuge  in  the  fortress  of  David,t  and  soon  all  the  Crusaders 
united  in  Jerusalem  embraced,  wept  for  joy,  and  gave  all 
their  attention  to  the  completion  of  their  victory. 

Despair,  however,  for  a  moment  forced  the  bravest  of  the 
Saracens  to  rally,  and  they  charged  with  impetuosity  the 

*  The  details  of  this  assault  are  repeated  by  all  contemporary  historians  ; 
several  describe  it  at  length.  Foulcher  de  Chartres,  who  without  doubt 
distingmshed  himself  there,  is  the  one  who  says  the  least.  Anna  Com- 
nena  says  that  the  Christians  took  Jerusalem  in  fifteen  days,  but  gives  no 
details. 

t  The  Oriental  authors  give  no  details  of  the  siege  of  Jerusalem.  The 
manuscript  history  of  Jerusalem  and  Hebron,  which  is  in  the  Imperial 
Library,  and  of  which  M.  Jourdain  has  been  kind  enough  to  translate 
several  fragments  for  me,  contains  nothing  but  vague  notices.  The  author 
contents  himself  with  saying  that  the  siege  lasted  more  than  forty  days, 
and  that  the  Christians  killed  a  great  number  of  Mussulmans.  We  may 
here  make  a  general  remark  :  when  the  Mussulmans  experience  reverses, 
the  Arabian  authors  are  very  sparing  of  details,  and  satisfy  themselves 
with  telling  things  in  a  vague  manner,  adding,  "  So  God  has  willed  it, 
may  God  curse  the  Christiatis."  Aboul-Feda  gives  very  few  more  details 
than  the  rest.  He  says  that  the  massacre  of  the  Mussulmans  lasted 
during  seven  consecutive  f'ays,  and  that  seventy  thousand  persons  were 
killed  in  the  mosque  of  Ouiar,  which  is  evidently  an  exaggeration. 


224  HISTOKY    OF    THE    CEUSAJDES. 

Christians,  who,  in  the  security  of  victorr,  were  proceeding 
to  the  pillage.*  The  latter  were  even  beginning  to  give 
wav  before  the  enemy  they  had  so  recently  conquered,  when 
Evei  arJ  de  Puvsaie,  of  whom  Eaoiil  de  Caen  has  celebrated 
the  bravery,  revived  the  courage  of  his  companions,  placed 
himself  at*  their  head,  and  once  more  spread  terror  among 
the  infidels.  From  that  moment  the  Crusaders  had  no  more 
enemies  to  contend  with.  History  has  remarked  that  the 
Christians  entered  Jemsalem  on  a  Friday,  at  the  hour  of 
three  in  the  afternoon  ;  exactly  the  same  day  and  hour  at 
which  Christ  expired  for  the  salvation  of  the  human  race. 
It  might  have  been  expected  that  this  memorable  epoch 
would  have  awakened  sentiments  of  mercy  in  their  hearts  ; 
but,  iiTitated  by  the  threats  and  protracted  insults  of  the 
Saracens,  incensed  bv  the  suiferings  thev  had  undergone 
durins:  the  siesre.  and  bv  the  resistance  thev  had  met  with 
even  in  the  city,  they  filled  with  blood  and  mournmg  that 
Jerusalem  which  thev  came  to  deliver,  and  which  thev  con- 
sidered  as  their  own  future  country.  The  carnage  soon 
became  general,  for  all  who  escaped  from  the  swords  of 
G  odfrey  and  Tancred,  feE  into  the  hands  of  the  Provencals, 
equally  thii'sting  for  blood.  The  Saracens  were  massacred 
in  the  streets  and  in  the  houses ;  Jerusalem  contained  no 
place  of  refuge  for  the  vanquished.  Some  sought  to  escape 
death  by  thi'owing  themselves  from  the  ramparts  ;  others 
flocked  in  crowds  to  the  palaces,  the  towers,  but  particularly 
to  the  mosques. — but  nowhere  could  they  escape  the  pur- 
suit of  the  Chrisrians. 

TThen  the  Crusaders  made  themselves  masters  of  the 
mosque  of  Omar,  in  which  the  Saracens  defended  them- 
selves for  some  time,  a  frightful  repetition  ensued  of  the 
scenes  of  carnage  which  attended  the  conquest  of  Titus. 
Horse  and  foot  entered  the  mosque  pele-mele  with  the  van- 
quished. In  the  midst  of  the  most  horrible  tumult  nothing 
was  heard  but  groans,  screams,  and  cries  of  death  ;  the  con- 
querors trampling  over  heaps  of  bodies  in  pursuit  of  all  who 
endeavoured  to  escape.  Raymond  d'Agiles,  an  ocular  wit- 
ness, says  that  under  the  portico,  and  in  the  porch  of  the 
mosque,  the  blood  rose. up  to  the  knees  and  the  bridles  of 

*  RaouJ  de  Caen,  cap.  132  et  133. 


HISTORY    OF    TRE    CRUSADES.  225 

the  horses.*  To  paint  the  terrible  spectacle  which  was  pre- 
sented at  two  periods  in  the  same  place,  it  will  suffice  to 
saj,  borrowing  the  words  of  the  historian  Josephus,  that  the 
number  of  the  slain  by  far  surpassed  that  of  the  soldiers 
who  immolated  them  to  their  vengeance,  and  that  the  moun- 
tains near  the  Jordan  in  moans  reechoed  the  frightful  sounds 
that  issued  from  the  temple. 

The  imagination  turns  with  disgust  from  these  horrible 
pictures,  and  can  scarcely,  amidst  the  carnage,  contemplate 
the  touching  image  of  the  Christians  of  Jerusalem,  whose 
chains  the  Crusaders  had  broken.  They  flocked  from  all 
parts  to  meet  the  conquerors  ;  they  shared  with  them  aU 
the  provisions  they  had  been  able  to  steal  from  the  Saracens; 
and  with  them  oft'ered  up  thanks  to  God  for  having  granted 
such  a  triumph  to  the  arms  of  the  Christians.  Peter  the 
Hermit,  who,  five  years  before,  had  promised  to  arm  the  West 
for  the  deliverance  of  the  Christians  of  Jerusalem,  must  have 
profoundly  enjoyed  the  spectacle  of  their  gratitude  and 
exultation.  Amidst  all  the  Crusaders,  they  appeared  only 
to  see  him  ;  they  recalled  his  words  and  his  promises  ;  it  was 
to  him  they  addi-essed  their  songs  of  praise;  it  was  him  they 
proclaimed  their  liberator.  They  related  to  him  the  evils 
they  had  suffered  during  his  absence ;  they  could  scarcely 

*  We  shall  content  ourselves  with  repeating  here  the  words  of  Ray- 
mond d'Agiles,  Foulcher  de  Chartres,  and  Robert  the  Monk  : — In  eodem 
templo  decern  millia  decollati  sunt ;  pedites  nostri  usque  ad  bases  cruore 
peremptorum  tingebantur ;  nee  foeminis  nee  parvulis  pepercerunt. — 
Ful.  Caen.  ap.  Bong.  p.  398.  Tantum  enim  ibi  huraani  sanguinis 
effusum  est,  ut  caesorum  corpora,  unda  sanguinis  impellente,  volverentur 
per  pavimentum,  et  brachia  give  trnncatce  manus  super  cruorem  fluita- 
bant. — Rob.  Mon.  lib.  9.  In  templo  et  porticu  Solomonis  equitabatur 
in  sanguine  usque  ad  genua  et  usque  ad  frsenos  equorum. —  Raym.  d'Ap. 
Bong.  p.  179.  These  words  of  Raymond  d'Agiles  are  evidently  an 
hyperbole,   and  prove  that  the  Latin  historians  exaggerated  things  they 

ought  to  have  extenuated  or  concealed In  a  letter  written  to  the 

pope,  the  bishops,  and  the  faithful,  by  Daimbert,  archbishop  of  Pisa, 
Godfrey  of  Bouillon,  and  Raymond  de  St.  Gilles,  is  this  remarkable 
passage:  "  If  you  desire  to  know,"  say  they,  "what  became  of  the 
enemies  we  found  in  Jerusalem,  know  that  in  the  portico  of  Solomon  and 
in  the  temple,  our  soldiers  had  the  vile  blood  of  the  Saracens  up  to  the 
knees  of  their  horses." — Si  scire  desideratis  quid  de  hostibus  ibi 
repertis  factum  fuerit,  scitote  quia  in  porticu  Salomonis,  et  in  templo 
nostri  equitabant  in  sanguine  fcedo  Sarracenorum  usque  ad  genua 
equorum. — See  Noims  Thesaurus  Anecdotorum ,  torn.  i.  p.  282. 


226  nisTOBT  OF  the  ceusades. 

believe  what  was  passing  before  them  ;  and,  in  their  enthu- 
siasm, they  expressed  astonishment  that  God  should  thus 
have  employed  only  a  single  man  to  stir  up  so  many  nations, 
and  to  effect  such  prodigies. 

The  sight  of  the  brethren  they  had  delivered,  no  doubt 
recalled  to  the  minds  of  the  pilgrims  that  they  were  come 
for  the  purpose  of  adoring  the  tomb  of  Christ ;  and  the  pious 
Godfrey,  who  had  abstained  from  carnage  after  the  victory, 
quitted  his  companions,  and,  followed  by  three  attendants, 
repaired  without  arms  and  barefooted  to  the  church  of  the 
Holy  Sepulchre.*  The  news  of  this  act  of  devotion  was 
soon  spread  through  the  Christian  army,  and  immediately 
all  vengeance  and  all  fury  were  at  an  end ;  the  Crusaders, 
castinor  away  their  bloodv  vestments,  made  the  city  resound 
with  their  groans  and  their  sobs,  and,  conducted  by  the 
clergy,  marched  together,  with  their  feet  bare  and  their 
heads  uncovered,  towards  the  church  of  the  [Resurrection. 

^Tien  the  Christian  army  was  thus  assembled  on  Calvary, 
night  began  to  fall ;  silence  reigned  over  the  public  places 
and  around  the  ramparts  ;t  nothing  was  heard  in  the  holy 
city  but  hymns  of  penitence  and  these  words  of  Isaiah, 
"  Tou  who  love  Jerusalem,  rejoice  with  her^^  The  Crusaders 
exhibited  a  devotion  so  animated  and  so  tender,  that  it 
might  have  been  said,  according  to  the  remark  of  a  modern 
historian,;^:  that  these  men  who  had  just  taken  a  city  by 
assault,  and  had  committed  a  horrible  carnage,  had  come 
forth  from  a  long  retirement  and  a  profound  meditation 
upon  our  mysteries.  These  inexplicable  contrasts  are  often 
to  be  observed  in  the  history  of  the  crusades.  Some  writers 
have  believed  that  they  found  in  them  a  pretext  to  accuse 
the  Christian  religion  itself,  whilst  others,  not  less  blind  or 
passionate,  have  endeavoured  to  palliate  the  deplorable 
excesses  of  fanaticism ;  the  impartial  historian  contents 
himself  with  relating  them,  and  mourns  in  silence  over  the 
weaknesses  of  human  nature. 

*  Albert  d'Aix  names  these  three  attendants  Baldric,  Adelborde,  and 
Stabulon. 

f  Some  historians  say  that  the  Christians  did  not  go  to  the  Holy 
Sepulchre  until  the  day  after  the  conquest.  We  here  adopt  the  opinion 
of  Albert  d'Aix,  which  appears  to  us  the  most  probable. 

i  Le  P.  Maimbourg,  Histoire  des  Croisades, 


HISTORY   or   THE    CRUSADES.  227 

The  pious  fervour  of  the  Christians  only  suspended  the 
scenes  of  carnage.  The  policy  of  some  of  the  leaders  might 
make  them  believe  that  it  was  necessary  to  inspire  the 
Saracens  with  as  much  dread  as  possible ;  they  thought, 
perhaps  also,  that  if  they  released  the  men  who  had  defended 
Jerusalem,  they  should  have  to  fight  them  over  again,  and 
that  it  was  not  prudent  for  them,  in  a  distant  country  and 
surrounded  by  enemies,  to  undertake  the  charge  of  prisoners 
whose  number  by  far  surpassed  that  of  their  own  soldiers. 
The  approach  of  the  Egyptian  army  likewise  was  announced, 
and  the  dread  of  a  new  danger  closed  their  hearts  against 
pity.  In  their  council,  a  sentence  of  death  was  decreed 
against  all  the  Mussulmans  that  remained  in  the  city.* 

Eanaticism  but  too  well  seconded  this  barbarous  policy. 
All  the  enemies  whom  humanity  or  the  fatigue  of  carnage 
had  at  first  spared,  and  even  such  as  had  been  saved  in 
hopes  of  a  rich  ransom,  were  slaughtered.  They  compelled 
the  Saracens  to  cast  themselves  from  the  tops  of  the  towers 
and  the  houses ;  they  made  them  perish  in  the  midst  of 
flames ;  they  dragged  them  from  their  subterranean  con- 
cealments to  the  public  places,  and  there  immolated  them 
upon  heaps  of  dead.  JS^either  the  tears  of  women  nor  the 
cries  of  infants,  not  even  the  sight  of  the  very  place  where 
Christ  had  pardoned  his  executioners,  could  soften  the 
hearts  of  the  angry  conquerors.  The  carnage  was  so  great 
that,  according  to  the  report  of  Albert  d'Aix,  bodies  were 
seen  heaped  up,  not  only  in  the  palaces,  the  temples,  and 
the  streets,  but  even  in  the  most  retired  and  solitary  places. 
Such  was  the  delirium  of  vengeance  and  fanaticism,  that 
these  scenes  appear  not  to  have  been  revolting  to  the  eyes 
of  those  wno  beheld  them.  The  contemporary  historians 
describe  them  without  thinking  of  excusing  them,  and 
amidst  recitals  of  the  most  disgusting  details,  never  allow 
a  single  expression  of  horror  or  pity  to  escape  them.f 

*  Albert  d'Aix  gives  the  sentence  which  emanated  from  the  council  of 
the  leaders.  This  sentence  is  supported  by  the  motives  we  have  pointed 
out. 

t  We  have  already  quoted  some  of  these  historians ;  others  relate 
nearly  the  same  details,  and  with  the  same  sang  f  void .  We  will  quote  no 
other  but  Raymond  d'Agiles,  who  expresses  himself  thus  : — Alii  namque 
Ulorum,    QUOD   levhts   erat,    obtruncabantur  capitibus ;    alii    autem 


228  nisTOHY  OF  the  chusades. 

The  few  Crusaders  ayIio  had  preserved  any  feelings  of 
humanity  had  not  the  power  to  check  tlie  fury  of  an  army 
who  thought  they  Avere  avenging  outraged  rehgion.  Three 
hundred  Saracens,  who  had  taken  refuge  on  the  platform  of 
the  mosque  of  Omar,  were  immolated  on  the  day  after  the 
conquest,  in  spite  of  the  prayers  of  Tancred,  who  had  sent 
tliem  his  standard  as  a  safeguard,  and  was  indignant  to  find 
t]iat  so  little  respect  was  paid  to  the  laws  of  honour  and 
chivalry.*  The  Saracens  who  had  retreated  to  the  fortress 
of  David  were  almost  the  only  persons  that  escaped  death. 
Eaymond  accepted  their  capitulation,  and  had  the  good 
fortune  and  the  glory  to  have  it  executed ;  but  this  act  of 
humanity  appeared  so  strange  to  the  greater  part  of  the 
Crusaders,  that  they  expressed  less  admiration  for  the 
generosity  of  the  count  de  St.  Gilles  than  contempt  for  his 

avarice.t 

The  carnage  did  not  cease  until  the  end  of  a  week.  Such 
of  the  Saracens  as  had  been  able  to  elude  pursuit  during 
this  period  were  reserved  for  the  service  of  the  army.  The 
Oriental  and  Latin  historians  agree  in  stating  the  number 
of  the  Mussulmans  slaiu  in  Jerusalem  to  have  been  more 
than  seventy  thousand.  The  Jews  met  vdth  no  more  mercy 
than  the  Saracens.  The  soldiers  set  fire  to  the  synagogue 
in  which  they  had  taken  refuge,  and  all  perished  in  the 
flames. 

But  it  began  to  be  feared  that  the  bodies  heaped  up  in 
the  public  places,  and  the  blood  which  had  flooded  the 
mosques  and  the  streets  might  give  rise  to  pestilential 
diseases,  and  the  leaders  gave  orders  that  the  streets  should 
be  cleansed,  and  that  a  spectacle  wliich,  now  fury  and  fana- 
ticism were  satisfied,  must  have  been  odious  to  them,  should 
be  removed  from  before  their  eyes.  Some  Mussulman  pri- 
soners, who  had  only  escaped  the  sword  of  the  conquerors 

sagittati,  de  turribus  saltare  cogebantur  ;  alii  vero  diutissime  torti  et 
ignibus  adusti  flammeriebantur  (sic).  Tidebantur  per  vicos  et  plateas 
civitatis  aggeres  capitum  et  manuum  atque  pedum. — Raym.  de  Ag. 
p.  178. 

*  Tankredus  miles  gloriosus  super  hac  sibi  illata  injuria,  vehementi 
ira  succensus  est. — Alb.  Aq.  lib.  vi.  cap.  29. 

t  Comes  Raymundus,  avaritia  corruptus,  Sarracenos  milites  quos  in 
turrim  David  elapsos  obsederat,  accepta  ingenti  pecunia,  illaesos  abii'e 
permisit. — Aid.  Aq.  lib.  vi.  cap.  28 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  229 

to  fall  into  a  horrible  state  of  slavery,  were  ordered  to  bury 
tlie  disfigured  bodies  of  their  friends  and  brothers.  "  They 
wept,"  says  Robert  the  Monk,*  "  and  transported  the  car- 
cases out  of  Jerusalem,"  They  were  assisted  in  this  melan- 
choly duty  by  the  soldiers  of  Raymond,  who,  having  entered 
last  into  the  city,  had  not  had  a  large  share  of  the  plunder, 
and  sought  to  increase  it  by  a  close  search  of  the  bodies  of 
the  Saracens. 

The  city  of  Jerusalem  soon  presented  a  new  spectacle. 
In  the  course  of  a  few  days  only  it  had  changed  its  inhabi- 
tants, laws,  and  religion.  Before  the  last  assault  it  had 
been  agreed,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  Crusaders  in 
their  conquests,  that  every  warrior  should  remain  master 
and  possessor  of  the  house  or  edifice  in  which  he  should 
present  himself  first.  A  cross,  a  buckler,  or  any  other 
mark  placed  upon  a  door,  was,  for  every  one  of  the  con- 
querors, a  good  title  of  possession.  This  right  of  property 
was  respected  by  every  soldier,  however  greedy  of  plunder, 
and  the  greatest  order  soon  reigned  in  a  city  but  recently 
given  up  to  all  the  horrors  of  war.  The  victory  enriched 
t]ie  greater  part  of  the  Crusaders.  The  conquerors  shared 
the  provisions  and  the  riches  they  had  found,  and  such 
as  had  not  been  fortunate  in  the  pillage  had  no  cause  to 
complain  of  their  companions.  A  part  of  the  treasures 
was  employed  in  assisting  the  poor,  in  supporting  orphans, 
and  in  decorating  the  altars  they  had  freed  from  the  Mus- 
sulmans. 

Tancred  had  as  his  share  all  the  wealth  found  in  the  mosque 
of  Omar.  Among  •  these  riches  were  twenty  candelabra  of 
gold,  a  hundred  and  twenty  of  silver,  a  large  lamp.f  and 
many  other  ornaments  of  the  same  metals.  This  booty  was 
so  considerable,  that  it  would  have  been  enough,  say  the 
historians,  to  load  six  chariots,  and  employed  Tancred  two 
days  in  removing  it  from  the  mosque.  The  Italian  hero 
gave  up  a  portion  of  this  to  his  soldiers  and  another  to 
Grodfrev,  to  whose  service  he  had  attached  himself.  He 
distributed  abundance  of  alms,  and  placed  fifty  gold  marks 


'*•  Robert  the  IMonk  expresses  himself  thus  :  "  Flebant  et  extrahebant." 
t   Properly  speaking,  this  was  a  kind  of  lustre  which  the  Arabians  call 
tendour.    The  ^lussulmans  have  them  of  so  large  a  size  that  it  is  necessary 
to  enlarge  the  doors  of  the  mosques  by  a  breach,  in  order  to  admit  them. 


230  KISTOET    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

in  the  hands  of  the  Latin  clersT  for  the  reestabKshment 
and  the  decoration  of  the  churches. 

But  the  Crusaders  soon  turned  their  eves  from  the  trea- 
sures Trhich  victory  had  bestowed  upon  them  to  admire  a 
conquest  much  more  precious  in  their  estimation ;  this  was 
the  true  cross,  which  had  had  been  borne  away  from  Jeru- 
salem bv  Cosroes  and  brous^ht  back  a^ain  bv  Heraclius. 
The  Christians  shut  up  in  the  city  had  concealed  it  from 
the  Saracens  during  the  siege.  The  sight  of  it  excited  the 
most  lively  emotions  in  the  pilgrims.  ''  Of  this  tiling'^  says 
an  old  chronicle,  *'  the  Christians  ivere  as  much  delighted  as 
if  they  had  seen  the  hody  of  Christ  hung  thereupon  ^  It  was 
borne  in  triumph  through  the  streets  of  Jerusalem,  and  then 
replaced  in  the  church  of  the  Eesurrection. 

Ten  days  after  then'  victory  the  Crusaders  employed 
themselves  in  restoring  the  tln^one  of  David  and  Solomon, 
and  in  placing  upon  it  a  leader  who  might  preserve  and 
maintain  a  conquest  that  the  Christians  had  made  at  the 
expense  of  so  much  blood.  The  council  of  the  piinces  being 
assembled,  one  of  the  leaders  (history  names  the  count  of 
Flanders)  arose  in  the  midst  of  them,  and  spoke  in  these 
terms  :*  '*  Brothers  and  companions  ;  we  are  met  to  treat  of 
an  affair  of  the  greatest  importance  ;  never  did  we  stand  in 
greater  need  of  the  coimsels  of  wisdom  and  the  inspirations 
of  heaven.  In  ordinarv  times  it  is  desirable  that  authority 
should  be  in  the  hands  of  the  most  able ;  with  how  much 
greater  reason  then  ought  we  to  seek  for  the  man  most 
worthy  to  govern  this  kingdom,  still  in  a  great  measure  in 
the  power  of  the  barbarians.  Already  we  are  told  that  the 
Egyptians  threaten  this  city,  for  which  we  are  about  to 
choose  a  master.  The  greater  part  of  the  Christian  waniors 
are  impatient  to  retiu-n  to  their  coiuitry,  and  to  abandon  to 
others  the-  care  of  defending  their  conquests.  The  new 
people  then  who  are  going  to  inhabit  this  land  will  have  in 
their  neighbourhood  no  other  Christian  nations  to  assist 
them  in  their  need  or  console  them  in  their  disgraces. 
Their  enemies  are  near  them,  their  allies  are  bevond  the 
seas.  The  king  vre  shall  give  them  will  be  then-  only  sup- 
port amidst  the  perils  which  will  surround  them.     He  then 

*  See,  for  this  deliberatiou  and  this  speech,  the  /fw^ory  of  Accolti, 
lib.  iv.,  and  that  of  Yves  Duchat. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  231 

who  is  called  upon  to  govern  tliis  country  must  have  all  the 
qualities  necessary  to  maintain  his  position  with  glory ;  he 
must  unite  with  the  bravery  natural  to  the  Franks,  tem- 
perance, good  faith,  and  humanity ;  for  you  know  by  such 
virtues  great  principalities  are  acquired  and  kept  as  well  as 
by  arms.  Let  us  not  forget,  brothers  and  companions,  that 
our  object  to-day  is  not  so  much  to  elect  a  king  for  Jerusa- 
lem, as  to  bestow  upon  it  a  faithfid  guardian.  He  whom 
we  shall  choose  as  leader  must  be  as  a  father  to  all  those 
who  have  quitted  their  country  and  their  families  for  the 
service  of  Jesus  Christ  and  the  defence  of  the  holy  places. 
He  must  make  virtue  flourish  in  this  land  where  God  him- 
self has  given  the  model  of  it ;  he  must  win  the  infidels  to 
the  Christian  religion,  accustom  them  to  oiu*  manners,  and 
teach  them  to  bless  our  laws.  If  vou  elect  one  who  is  not 
worthy,  you  will  destroy  your  own  work,  and  will  bring  ruin 
on  the  Christian  name  in  this  country.  I  have  no  need  to 
recall  to  your  minds  the  exploits  or  the  laboiu's  which  have 
placed  us  in  possession  of  this  territory ;  I  -^tII  not  remind 
you  of  the  dearest  wishes  of  our  brothers  who  have  remained 
in  the  AYest.  AVhat  would  be  their  sorrow,  what  would  be 
ours,  if,  on  our  return  to  Europe,  we  should  hear  that  the 
public  good  had  been  neglected  and  betrayed,  or  religion 
abolished  in  these  places  where  we  have  restored  its  altars  ? 
Many  would  then  not  fail  to  attribute  to  fortune,  and  not  to 
virtue,  the  great  things  we  have  done,  whilst  the  evils  which 
this  kingdom  would  undergo  would  pass  in  the  eyes  of  men 
as  the  fruit  of  our  imprudence. 

"  Ho  not  believe,  however,  brothers  and  companions,  that  I 
speak  thus  because  I  am  ambitious  of  royalty,  and  that  I  am 
seeking  your  favour  or  suffrages.  No  ;  I  have  not  sufficient 
presumption  to  aspire  to  such  an  honour;  I  take  Heaven 
and  men  to  witness,  that  even  if  you  should  offer  me  the 
crown,  I  would  not  accept  it,  being  resolved  to  return  to 
my  o^Ti  country.  That  which  I  have  said  to  you  is  but  for 
the  good  and  glory  of  all.  For  the  rest,  I  supplicate  you  to 
receive  this  advice  as  I  give  it  to  you,  T\-ith  affection,  frank- 
ness, and  loyalty,  and  to  elect  for  king  him  who  by  his  \-ir- 
tue  shall  be  most  capable  of  preserving  and  extending  this 
kingdom,  to  which  are  attached  both  the  honour  of  your 
arms  and  the  cause  of  Jesus  Christ." 


232  nisTOET  or  the  ceusades. 

Scarcely  had  the  coiint  of  Flanders  ceased  speaking,  than 
all  the  other  leaders  gave  him  the  warmest  praise  for  his 
prudence  and  good  feelings.  Most  of  them  even  thought  of 
offering  him  the  honour  he  had  declined,  for  he  who  in  such 
circumstances  refuses  a  crown,  always  appears  to  be  the 
most  worthy  of  it ;  but  Eobert  had  expressed  himself  with 
frankness  and  good  faith ;  he  longed  to  return  to  Eiu'ope, 
and  was  satisfied  with  the  honour  of  bearing  the  title  of 
"the  Son  of  St.  Greorge,"  which  his  exploits  in  the  holy  war 
had  obtained  for  him. 

Among  the  leaders  who  could  be  called  upon  to  reign 
over  Jerusalem,  we  must  place  in  the  first  rank  G-odirey, 
Raymond,  the  duke  of  Xormandy,  and  Tancred.  The  only 
object  of  Tancred  was  glory  in  arms,  and  he  placed  the  title 
of  kniglit  far  above  that  of  king.  The  duke  of  Xormandy, 
like^Nise,  had  e^-inced  more  bravery  than  ambition ;  after 
having  disdained  the  kingdom  of  England,  he  was  not  likely 
to  be  anxious  to  srain  that  of  Jerusalem.  If  we  mav  believe 
an  En2:lish  historian.*  he  misfht  have  obtained  the  suffras^es 
of  his  companions  ;  but  he  refused  the  throne  of  David  from 
indolence,  which  so  irritated  God  against  him,  says  the  same 
author,  that  nothing  afterwards  prospered  with  him  during 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  The  count  of  Thoulouse  had 
taken  an  oath  never  to  return  to  Europe,  but  his  companions 
dreaded  his  obstinate  and  ambitious  character ;  and  although 
several  authors  have  said  that  he  refused  to  ascend  the 
throne  on  account  of  his  great  age,  evei'}i:hing  leads  us  to 
believe  that  the  Clmstians  feared  to  have  him  for  king. 

The  opinions  of  the  leaders  and  the  army  were  various 
and  uncertain.  The  clergy  insisted  that  a  patriarch  should 
be  named  before  they  elected  a  king  ;  the  princes  were  not 
at  all  agreed  among  themselves,  and  of  the  bodv  of  the 
Crusaders,  some  would  liave  wished  to  choose  him  whom 

*  The  English  historian  Brompton  expresses  himself  thus  whilst  re- 
lating the  misfortunes  that  Robert  afterwards  experienced  : — Sic  reddidit 
Dominus  vicem  pro  vice  duci  Roberto,  quia  cum  gloriosum  in  actibus 
Jerosohmitantis  eura  Dominus  redderet,  regnum  Jerosolimitantum  sibi 
oblatum  renuit,  magis  eligeus  quieti  et  desidiae  in  Xormania  deservTre 
quam  regi  regum  in  sancta  civitate  militare.  Damnavit  igitur  eum  Deus 
desidia  perenni  et  carcere  sempitemo. — See  the  Histories  Anglica 
Scripiores,  torn.  i.  p.  1002. 


HISTORY    or    Tlfe    CRTJSADES.  233 

they  had  followed  through  the  holy  war,  whilst  others,  like 
the  Proven9als,  who  liad  no  attachment  for  the  count  of 
St.  Gilles,  and  were  not  desirous  of  remaining  in  Asia,  gave 
all  their  efforts  to  keep  the  crown  of  Jerusalem  from  the 
prince  under  whose  colours  they  served. 

To  terminate  the  debate,  it  was  decided  that  the  choice 
should  be  made  by  a  special  council  of  ten  of  the  most 
highly  respected  men  of  the  army.  Prayers,  fasts,  and  alms 
were  commanded,  in  order  to  propitiate  Heaven  to  guide 
them  in  the  nomination  they  were  about  to  make.  They 
who  were  called  upon  to  choose  the  king  swore,  in  the  pre- 
sence of  the  whole  Christian  army,  not  to  listen  to  any 
interest  or  any  private  affection,  but  to  decree  the  cro"UTi  to 
wisdom  and  \drtue.  These  electors,  whose  names  history 
has  not  preserved,  gave  the  utmost  attention  to  ascertain 
the  opinion  of  the  army  upon  the  merits  of  each  of  the 
leaders.  AVilliam  of  Tyre  relates  that  they  went  so  far  as 
even  to  interrogate  the  familiar  associates  and  servants  of 
all  who  had  any  pretensions  to  the  crown,  and  that  they 
made  them  take  an  oath  to  reveal  all  they  knew  of  the 
manners,  characters,  and  secret  propensities  of  their  mas- 
ters. The  servants  of  Grodfre}^  of  Bouillon  gave  the  most 
striking  evidence  of  his  mildness  and  humanity,  but  above 
all  of  his  exemplary  devotion. 

To  add  to  this  honourable  testimony,  the  exploits  of  the 
duke  of  Lorraine  during  the  holy  war  were  dwelt  upon.  They 
remembered  that  at  the  siege  of  Nice  he  had  killed  the  most 
redoubtable  of  the  Saracens  ;  that  he  had  split  from  shoulder 
to  haunch  a  giant  on  the  bridge  ofAntioch,  and  that  in 
Asia  Minor  he  had  exposed  his  life  to  save  that  of  a  soldier 
who  was  overpowered  by  a  bear.  ]\Iany  other  feats  of  bravery 
were  related  of  him,  which  in  the  minds  of  the  Crusaders 
placed  him  above  all  the  other  competitors.* 

Grodfrey  was  the  leader  decidedly  in  possession  of  the  suf- 
frages of  the  majority  of  the  army  and  the  people  ;  and  that 
he  might  not  want  anything  in  the  expression  of  their  wishes 
for  his  success,  revelations  were  announced  that  Grod  himself 
declared  in  his  favour.  "  Many  years  before  the  crusade," 
says  Albert  d'Aix,  "  a  soldier  named  ITezelon  de  Kintz- 

*  See  Abbot  Guil/ert,  lib.  vii.  cap.  12. 


234  HISTORY    or    THE    CEUSADES. 

veiler,  had  fallen  asleep  in  a  forest,  and,  being  conveyed  in 
a  dream  to  the  summit  of  Sinai,  he  had  seen  Godfi'ey, 
covered  with  glory,  and  accompanied  by  two  celestial  mes- 
sengers, who  announced  to  him  that  Grod  had  chosen  him, 
as  he  had  done  Moses,  to  be  the  conductor  and  chief  of  his 
people."  A  clerk,  Giselbert  (a  canon  of  St.  Mary,  of  Aix 
la  Chapelle),  related  a  vision  not  less  miraculous.  The  duke 
of  Lorraine  had  appeared  to  him  seated  upon  the  throne 
even  of  the  sini.  The  birds  of  heaven  from  all  climates  and 
all  points  of  the  horizon,  flew  around  him  in  numberless 
troops.  The  recital  of  this  apparition  was  accompanied  by 
many  other  circumstances  which  we  have  not  space  to  re- 
peat ;  but  the  Crusaders,  who  were  much  struck  with  them, 
did  not  fail  to  see  in  the  throne  of  the  sun  a  faithful  image 
of  that  of  Jerusalem,  and  in  the  birds  of  heaven  the  mul- 
titude of  pilgrims  who  would  come  from  all  countries  to  do 
honoiu"  to  the  glorious  reign  of  Grodfrey.* 

These  "visions,  which  are  despised  in  an  enlightened  age, 
had  great  power  over  the  Christian  army,  and  did  not 
contribute  less  than  the  personal  merit  of  the  prince  of 
Bouillon  to  draw  upon  him  the  attention  of  all.  In  this 
disposition  of  the  general  mind,  the  Crusaders  looked  -with 
impatience  for  the  decision  of  the  council  which  was  to  give 
a  king  to  Jerusalem. 

At  length  the  electors,  after  mature  deliberations,  and  an 
anxious  inquiry  for  all  necessary  information,  proclaimed  the 
name  of  Grodfrey.  This  nomination  caused  the  most  lively 
joy  throughout  the  Christian  army,  and  was  considered  as 
an  inspiration  of  heaven.  By  the  authority  given  to  him, 
Grodfrey  became  the  depositary^  of  the  dearest  interests  of 
the  Crusaders.  Every  one  amons:  them  had  in  some  sort 
confided  his  own  glory  to  him,  by  lea^-ing  him  the  care  of 
watching  over  and  guiding  their  conquests.  They  conducted 
him  in  triumph  to  the  church  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  where 
he  took  the  oath  to  respect  the  laws  of  honour  and  justice. 
He  refused  the  diadem  and  the  insignia  of  royalty,  sa^dng 
that  he  would  never  accept  a  crown  of  gold  in  a  city  in 
which  the  SaAiour  of  the   world  had   been   crowned  -^ith 

*  Albert  d'Aix,  who  relates  these  two  visions  at  length,  terminates 
thus  : — Horum  somniorum  prsesignatione  ex  Dei  ordinatione,  populi 
Christiani  benevolentia,  Godefrido  in  solio  regni  Jerusalem  exaltato. 


HISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  235 

ttoms.  He  contented  himself  witli  the  modest  title  of 
defender  and  baron  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre.  It  has  been 
pretended  that  in  this  he  only  acted  in  obedience  to  the  in- 
sinuations of  the  clerg)',  who  were  afraid  of  seeing  pride 
seated  upon  a  throne  over  which  the  spirit  of  Christ  ought 
to  reign.  However  this  may  be,  Godfrey  richly  merited  by 
his  virtues  the  title  of  king  which  history  has  given  him, 
and  which  was  far  more  due  to  him  than  the  name  of  king- 
dom was  to  the  feeble  states  he  had  to  govern. 

As  the  war  had  the  triumph  of  religion  for  its  object,  the 
clergy  employed  themselves  in  naming  bishops,  consecrating 
churches,  and  sending  pastors  to  all  the  cities  that  had  sub- 
mitted to  the  power  of  the  Cliristians.  Piety  and  disinter- 
estedness ought  to  have  presided  in  the  choice  of  the  ministers 
of  Chi'ist ;  but  since  the  death  of  the  virtuous  Adhemar,  the 
greater  part  of  the  Latin  ecclesiastics,  no  longer  restrained 
by  his  example,  had  forgotten  the  humility  and  simplicity  of 
their  profession.  If  William  of  T}Te  may  be  believed,  ad- 
dress and  intrigue  openly  obtained  the  suffrages,  and  the 
spirit  of  the  religion  which  had  just  given  Jerusalem  a  good 
king,  could  not  succeed  in  bestowing  upon  it  prelates  re- 
spectable either  for  their  wisdom  or  their  virtues.  The 
clergy,  who  had  ventured  to  disturb  the  election  of  the  king 
by  their  intrigues,  carried  their  pretensions  as  high  as  the 
sovereignty  of  the  city,  and  claimed  with  arrogance  the 
greatest  part  in  the  division  of  the  booty  won  from  the 
infidels.*  The  Grreek  priests,  in  spite  of  their  rights,  were 
sacrificed  to  the  ambition  of  the  E-oman  clergy,  as  they  had 
been  in  the  city  of  Antiocli.  The  chaplain  of  the  duke  of 
Normandy  caused  himself  to  be  proposed  as  patriarch  of 
Jerusalem,  in  the  place  of  Simeon,  who  had  summoned  the 
warriors  from  the  West.  Simeon  was  stiU  in  the  isle  of 
Cyprus,  from  whence  he  had  continually  sent  provisions  to 
the  Crusaders  during  the  siege.  He  died  at  the  moment  in 
which  the  Latm  ecclesiastics  were  quarrelling  for  his  spoils, 
and  his  death  came  very  opportunely  to  excuse  their  injus- 
tice and  ingratitude.  Arnold,  whose  morals  were  more  than 
suspected,  and  whose  conduct  has  merited  the  censure  of 

*  We  may  see  in  Raoul  de  Caen  tlie  debates  which  arose  on  this  sub- 
ject, and  particularly  the  accusation  directed  against  Tancred  by  Arnold 
de  Rohes,  in  the  name  of  the  Latin  clergy. 

Vol.  1—12 


236  HiSTOEv:  or  the  ceusades. 

tlie  gi'avest  historians,  vras  nominated  pastor  of  the  church 
of  Jerusalem. 

In  the  meanwhile  fame  had  proclaimed  the  conquesi  of 
the  holy  city  throughout  all  the  neighbouring  countries. 
In  all  the  churches  foiuided  by  the  Crusaders  in  their  pas- 
sage,  thanks  were  offered  up  to  God  for  a  victory  which  must 
necessarily  cause  the  triumph  of  the  worship  and  the  laws  of 
Christ  in  the  East.  The  Christians  of  Antioch,  Edessa,  and 
Tarsus,  with  those  who  inhabited  Cilicia,  Cappadocia,  Syria, 
and  Mesopotamia,  came  in  crowds  to  Jerusalem,  some  for  the 
purpose  of  fixing  their  abode  there,  others  to  visit  the  holj' 
places. 

"VYhilst  the  faithfid  were  rejoicing  over  their  conquest,  the 
Mussulmans  gave  themselves  up  to  despair.  The  few  who 
had  escaped  from  the  swords  of  the  Crusaders  spread  con- 
sternation wherever  they  Avent.  The  historians  Abul-Ma- 
hacam,  Elmacin,  and  Aboul-Feda  have  described  the  desola- 
tion which  reigned  at  Bagdad.  Zeimeddin,  cadhi  of  Damascus, 
tore  out  his  own  beard  in  the  presence  of  the  Caliph.  The 
whole  divan  shed  tears  whilst  listening  to  the  recital  of  the^ 
misfortunes  of  Jerusalem.  Fasts  and  prayers  were  ordered 
to  mitigate  the  anger  of  heaven.  The  Imans  and  poets  de- 
plored in  pathetic  verses  and  discourses  the  fate  of  the  Mus- 
sulmans who  had  become  slaves  of  the  Christians.  "  "VYhat 
blood,"  said  they,  "has  not  flowed  ?  "Wliat  disasters*  have 
not  befallen  the  true  believers  ?     "Women  have  been  obliged 

*  We  here  give  the  translation  of  some  passages  of  an  elegy  of  the  poet 
Modhaffer  Abyverdy  upon  the  taking  of  Jerusalem  by  the  Crusaders, 
inserted  by  Aboul-Feda  in  his  Annales,  torn.  iii.  p.  319.  This  translation 
is  by  M.  Jourdain. 

"  Our  blood  is  mingled  with  our  tears,  and  no  part  of  our  being  remains 
to  us  that  can  be  the  object  of  the  blows  of  our  enemies. 

"  O  misfortune  I  if  tears  take  the  place  of  true  arms,  when  the  fires  of 
•war  break  forth  ! 

"  How  can  the  eye  close  its  lids,  when  catastrophes  such  as  otirs  would 
awaken  even  those  who  slept  in  the  most  profound  repose  ! 

*'  Your  brethren  have  no  other  resting-places  in  Syria  but  the  backs  ol 
their  camels  and  the  entrails  of  vultures  I 

"  The  Franks  treat  them  like  vile  slaves,  whilst  you  allow  yourselves  to 
be  drawn  carelessly  along  by  the  skirt  of  the  robe  of  effeminacy,  as  people 
would  do  in  perfect  security  ! 

"  What  blood  has  not  flowed  !  how  many  women  have  been  forced  by 
modesty  to  conceal  their  beauty  with  their  bracelets  ! 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  237 

to  fly,  concealing  their  faces  ;  cliildi'en  have  fallen  under  the 
swords  of  the  conquerors  ;  and  there  remains  no  other  asylum 
for  our  brothers,  so  lately  masters  of  Syria,  but  the  backs  of 
their  camels,  or  the  entrails  of  the  vultures." 

The  caliph  of  Bagdad,  deprived  of  his  authority,  had  no- 
thing to  offer  but  his  prayers  and  tears  for  the  cause  of  the 
Mussulmans.  The  factories  of  the  Christians  had  inflicted  a 
mortal  blow  upon  the  dynasty  of  the  Seldjoucides.  The  sultan 
of  Persia,  retired  to  the  extremity  of  Coracan,  was  occupied 
in  appeasing  ci\dl  wars,  and  scarcely  gave  a  thought  to  the 
emirs  of  Syria,  who  had  shaken  oft'  his  authority,  and  shared 
his  spoils  amongst  them.  The  greater  part  of  the  emirs  were 
quarrelling  among  themselves  for  the  cities  and  provinces 
threatened  by  the  warriors  of  the  "West.  The  discords  m  hich 
accompany  the  fall  of  empires  had  everywhere  sown  trouble 
and  division  among  the  infidels  ;  but  such  was  their  grief 
when  they  learnt  the  conquest  of  Jerusalem  by  the  Chris- 
tians, that  they  united  in  weeping  together  over  the  outrages 
committed  upon  the  religion  of  Mahomet.  The  Turks  of 
Syria,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Damascus  and  Bagdad  placed 
their  last  hope  in  the  caliph  of  Cairo,  whom  they  had  so  long 
considered  an  enemy  to  the  prophet,  and  came  in  crowds  to 
join  the  Egyptian  army  which  was  advancing  towards  Ascalon. 

At  Jerusalem  they  soon  learnt  that  this  army  had  reached 
Gaza,  in  the  ancient  country  of  the  Philistines.  Godfrey 
immediately  caused  his  brother  Eustace  and  Tancred,  who 
had  quitted  the  city  to  go  and  take  possession  of  Naplouse, 
to  be  informed  of  this.  He  pressed  the  other  leaders  of  the 
crusade  to  unite  with  him  and  march  to  meet  the  Saracens. 
The  duke  of  jSTormandy  at  first  refused  to  follow  him,  alleg- 
ing that  his  vow  was  accomplished ;  and  the  count  of 
Thoulouse,  who  had  been  forced  to  give  up  to  the  king 
the  fortress  of  David,  which  he  pretended  belonged  to 
him  by  right  of  conquest,  rejected  with  haughtiness  the 
prayers  of  Godfrey,  and  treated  the  news  of  the  approach  of 
the  Saracens  as  a  fable. 

"  Will  the  chiefs  of  the  Arabs,  the  heroes  of  the  Persians,  submit  to 
such  degradation  ? 

"  Ah  !  at  least,  if  they  do  not  defend  themselves,  from  attachment  to 
their  religion,  let  them  be  animated  on  account  of  their  own  honour,  and 
by  the  love  of  all  that  is  dear  to  them  !" 


238  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

The  refusal  of  tlie  duke  of  Xormandy  and  Eaymond  did 
not  prevent  Godfrey  from  commencing  his  march,  followed 
bv  Tancred,  the  count  of  Flanders,  and  several  other  leaders. 
They  learnt  on  their  route  that  the  emir  Afdhal,  the  same 
that  had  taken  Jerusalem  from  the  Turks,  commanded  the 
army  of  the  infidels.     This  general  had  under  his  standard 
an  almost  countless  multitude  of  Mussulmans,  from  the 
banks  of  the  Tigris  and  the  Xile,  the  shores  of  the  Eed  Sea, 
and  the  extremities  of  Ethiopia.    A  fleet  had  sailed  from  the 
ports  of  A]exandi'ia  and  Damietta,  laden  with  all  sorts  of  pro- 
visions, and  the  machines  necessary  for  the  siege  of  Jerusalem. 
Afdhal  had  taken  a  solemn  oath  before  the  caliph  to  anni- 
hilate for  ever  the  power  of  the  Crusaders  in  Asia,  and  to 
entirely  destroy  Calvary,  the  tomb  of  Christ,  and  all  the 
monuments  revered  by  the  Christians. 

The  march  and  the  intentions  of  Afdlial  soon  conveyed 
terror  to  Jerusalem.  Ea^nnond  and  the  duke  of  Normandy 
were  again  pressed  to  join  the  Christian  amiy.  Women, 
old  men,  and  priests  with  tears  conjured  the  two  princes  to 
have  pity  on  the  holy  city  they  had  delivered.  They  repre- 
sented to  them  the  fatal  consequences  of  their  inaction, 
which  rendered  all  the  labours  of  the  Crusaders  useless,  and 
closed  for  ever  the  doors  of  the  East  against  pilgrims.  The 
voices  of  all  the  nations  of  the  AYest,  they  told  them,  would 
be  raised  against  them,  and  the  blood  of  the  Christians  would 
be  on  their  heads.  At  last  Eobert  and  Eaymond  allowed 
themselves  to  be  prevailed  upon,  and  marched  ^vith  their 
troops  to  join  Godfrey.  The  new  patriarch  desired  to  fol- 
low them,  bearing  with  him  the  wood  of  the  true  cross,  the 
sight  of  which,  like  that  of  the  holy  lance,  would  redouble 
the  enthusiasm  and  the  bravery  of  the  Crusaders. 

All  the  Christians  in  a  condition  to  bear  arms  quitted 
Jerusalem  to  go  and  fight  the  Mussulmans.  There  only 
remained  in  the  holy  city  the  women,  the  sick,  and  a  part  ot 
the  clergy,  who,  having  Peter  the  Hermit  at  their  head, 
addressed  night  and  day  prayers  to  Heaven  to  obtain  the 
triumph  of  the  defenders  of  the  holy  places,  and  the  last 
defeat  of  the  enemies  of  Christ. 

The  Christian  army,  which  had  at  first  assembled  at 
Eamla,  advanced  across  a  sandy  coimtry,  and  encamped  on 
the  banks  of  the  torrent  of  Sorex,  in  the  plain  of  Saphoea, 


UISTORY    OF    TUE    CRUSADES.  239 

or  Serfend,  situated  bet-sA-een  Jaffa  and  Ascalon.  The  day- 
after  the  Christians  arrived  on  this  plain,  they  perceived  at 
a  distance,  towards  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening,  a  vast  mul- 
titude, which  they  took  for  the  army  of  the  enemy.  Two 
hundred  horsemen,  who  were  sent  out  to  reconnoitre,  soon 
returned,  however,  with  the  agreeable  intelligence  that  the 
multitude  they  had  taken  for  the  Egyptian  army  was  nothing 
but  a  drove  of  oxen  and  camels.  So  rich  a  booty  at  first 
awakened  the  avidity  of  the  soldiers,  but  the  prudent  Grod- 
frey,  who  saw  nothing  in  this  cii'cumstance  but  a  stratagem 
of  the  enemy  to  throw  the  Christian  army  in  disorder,  for- 
bade his  soldiers  to  leave  their  ranks.  The  other  leaders, 
after  his  example,  endeavoured  to  restrain  the  men  under 
their  command,  and  all  remained  firm  beneath  their  standards. 

The  Crusaders  learned  from  some  prisoners  they  had  made, 
that  the  enemy  were  encamped  at  three  leagues  from  them, 
and  that  they  were  preparing  to  come  and  attack  the  Chris- 
tian army.  Upon  receiving  this  advice,  the  leaders  made 
their  dispositions  to  receive  the  infidels.  The  army  was 
drawn  up  in  nine  divisions,  and  formed  a  sort  of  square 
battalion,  so  as  to  be  able  at  need,  to  face  the  enemy  at  all 
points.  The  Crusaders  passed  the  night  under  arms.  On 
the  following  morning  (it  was  the  eve  of  the  Assumption) 
the  heralds  announced  by  sound  of  trumpet  that  they  were 
about  to  give  battle  to  the  infidels.  At  break  of  day  the 
Crusaders  received  the  benediction  of  the  patriarch  of  Jeru- 
salem. The  wood  of  the  true  cross  was  carried  through  the 
ranks,  and  shown  to  the  soldiers  as  a  certain  pledge  of  vic- 
tory. The  leaders  then  gave  the  signal,  all  the  ensigns  were 
unfurled,  and  the  army  marched  to  meet  the  Saracens. 

The  nearer  the  Christians  approached  the  army  of  Egypt, 
the  more  were  they  filled  with  confidence  and  hope.  Their 
drums,  cymbals,  hymns,  and  war-songs  animated  them  to 
the  fight.  They  marched  towards  the  enemy,  says  Albert 
d'Aix,  as  to  a  joyous  feast.  An  emir  of  Palestine,  who 
followed  the  army  as  an  auxiliary,  could  not  sufiiciently 
admire,  if  we  may  believe  historians,  this  joy  of  the  soldiers 
of  the  cross  at  the  approach  of  danger.  He  came  to  express 
his  surprise  to  the  king  of  Jerusalem,  and  swore  before  him 
to  embrace  a  religion  which  could  give  so  much  strength  and 
bravery  to  its  defenders. 


240  mSTOKY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

The  Christians  soon  arrived  in  the  plain  of  Ascalon.  This 
immense  plain  is  bounded  on  the  east  and  south  by  moun- 
tains, and  extends  on  the  west  to  tlie  sea.  On  the  coast 
was  situated  the  city  of  Ascalon,  over  which  the  Mussulman 
standards  floated.  At  the  extremity  of  the  plain  the  army 
of  Egypt  was  di'awn  up,  with  the  sea  and  the  mountains 
behind  it.  The  Crusaders  advanced  in  two  lines ;  the  count 
of  Thoulouse  commanded  the  right  wing,  the  two  Roberts 
and  Tancred  were  placed  at  the  left.  Grodfrey  commanded 
a  body  of  reserve,  which  was  at  the  same  time  to  keep  the 
garrison  of  Ascalon  in  check  and  fight  with  the  army  of 

Egypt. 

AAHiilst  the  Christian  army  was  thus  marching  in  battle 
array,  the  drove  of  oxen  and  camels  that  they  had  met  on 
their  route  came  to  their  rear,  and  followed  all  their  move- 
ments. The  confused  noise  of  these  animals,  mingled  with 
the  soim^d  of  the  drums  and  trumpets,  and  the  clouds  of 
dust  which  arose  uuder  their  steps,  caused  them  to  be  taken 
for  squadrons  of  horse,  and  the  Mussulmans  were  persuaded 
that  the  Christian  army  was  more  numerous  than  their  own. 
They  were  drawn  up  in  two  lines,  as  the  Crusaders  were. 
The  Tm-ks  from  Spia  and  Bagdad  were  on  the  right ;  the 
Moors  and  Egyptians  on  the  left ;  the  emir  Afdhal  occupied 
the  centre  with  the  main  body  of  the  Eg^-ptian  forces.  This 
army  covered  an  immense  space,  and,  says  Eoulcher  de 
Chartres,  like  a  stag  wlio  projects  his  branching  horns,  it 
extended  its  wings  to  envelop  the  Christians ;  but  a  sudden 
terror  rendered  it  motionless. 

In  vaiu  the  emir  endeavoured  to  rouse  the  courage  of  his 
soldiers.  They  fancied  that  millions  of  Crusaders  had 
arrived  from  the  West ;  they  forgot  both  their  oaths  and 
their  threats,  and  only  remembered  the  fate  of  the  Mussul- 
mans immolated  after  the  conquest  of  Jerusalem. 

Before  engaging,  all  the  Crusaders,  fully  armed,  fell  on 
their  knees  to  implore  the  protection  of  Heaven ;  and  rising 
full  of  ardour  and  hope,  marched  against  the  Saracens.  If 
the  most  truthful  historians  are  to  be  believed,  they  had  not 
more  than  fifteen  thousand  foot  and  five  thousand  horse. 
TVlien  they  had  arrived  within  bow-shot,  the  foot-soldiers 
made  several  discharges  of  javelins,  at  the  same  time  the 
cavalry,  increasing  their  speed,  precipitated  themselves  upon 


niSTOKY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  241 

the  enemy's  ranks.  At  this  first  charge  the  dulce  of  ISTor- 
mandy,  the  count  of  Flanders,  and  Tancred  broke  through 
the  centre  of  the  Egyptians.  Duke  Eohert,  followed  by  his 
bravest  knights,  penetrated  to  the  place  where  Afdhal 
fought,  and  got  possession  of  the  great  standard  of  the 
inlide],3,  The  foot-soldiers  followed  the  horse  into  the 
melee,  and  cast  away  their  bows  and  javelins  to  make 
use  of  sword  and  lance,  arms  much  more  terrible  to  the 
Mussulmans. 

On  all  sides  the  Saracens  were  thrown  into  disorder. 
Towards  the  end  of  the  battle  Godfrey  had  had  to  contend 
with  a  troop  of  Ethiopians,  who  bent  one  knee  to  the  ground 
to  launch  their  javelins,  and  then,  springing  up,  rushed  upon 
the  Crusaders  with  long  flails  armed  with  balls  of  iron.  This 
redoubtable  battalion  could  not  alone  resist  the  lances  of  the 
Christians,  and  were  soon  dispersed.  An  invincible  terror 
seemed  to  paralyze  the  arms  of  the  INIussulmans.  AYhilst 
the  king  of  Jerusalem  was  pursuing  the  Ethiopians  and 
INIoors  who  fled  towards  the  mountains  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
field  of  battle,  the  Syrians  and  the  Arabs,  who  fought  in  the 
left  wing,  were  broken  by  the  count  of  Thoulouse.  Hotly 
pressed  by  the  conquerors,  a  great  number  of  them  preci- 
pitated themxselves  into  the  sea,  and  perished  in  the  waves ; 
others  sought  an  asylum  in  the  city  of  Ascalon,  and  such 
was  their  eagerness,  and  so  numerous  were  they,  that  two 
tliousa,nd  were  crushed  to  death  upon  the  drawbridge. 
Amidst  the  general  rout,  Afdhal  was  on  the  point  of  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  conquerors ;  and,  leaving  his  sword 
upon  the  field  of  battle,  had  great  difiiculty  in  gaining  As- 
calon. Historians  add,  that  when,  from  the  walls  of  that 
city,  he  contemplated  the  destruction  of  his  army,  he  shed  a 
torrent  of  tears.  In  his  despair,  he  cursed  Jerusalem,  the 
cause  of  all  his  evils,  and  blasphemed  Mahomet,  whom  he 
accused  of  having  abandoned  his  servants  and  disciples. 

This  was  a  day  of  terror  and  death  for  the  Mussulmans. 
Erom  the  begimimg  of  the  battle,  the  infidels,  who  had 
pre\T,ously  burned  with  a  thirst  of  vengeance,  appeared  to 
have  no  purpose  but  to  escape  by  flight  from  an  enemy  who 
granted  no  mercy  to  the  conquered.  In  their  mortal  fear, 
they  let  fall  their  arms,  and  suffered  themselves  to  be 
slaughtered  witliout  oflfering   the   least   resistance.     Their 


242  HiSTOET  or  the  ckusades. 

terrified  crowd  stood  motionless  on  the  field  of  battle,  and 
the  sword,  to  employ  the  expression  of  a  contemporary,* 
mowed  them  down  lilve  the  grass  of  the  field.  Some  cast 
themselves  on  the  ground,  and  concealed  themselves  among 
heaps  of  slain ;  whilst  others  plunged  into  caverns,  or  scram- 
bled up  rocks  or  trees,  where  they  were  shot  down  with 
arrows,  like  birds. f  Afdhal,  who  did  not  believe  himself  to 
be  in  safety  in  Ascalon,  embarked  on  board  a  fleet  which  had 
arrived  from  Egypt.  Towards  the  middle  of  the  contest,  all 
the  Eg^'ptian  vessels  which  were  near  the  shore  spread  their 
sails,  and  gained  the  open  sea.  From  that  moment  no  hope 
of  safety  remained  for  the  scattered  army  of  these  infidels, 
who  were,  as  they  had  said,  to  deliver  the  East,  and  whose 
multitude  was  so  great,  that,  according  to  the  expression  of 
old  historians,  God  alone  knew  the  number  of  them.  J 

Such  was  this  battle,  whose  prodigies  poetry  has  taken 
delight  in  celebrating,  but  which  was,  in  reality,  nothing  but 
an  easy  victory  for  the  Christians,  in  which  fanaticism  even 
had  not  the  least  share.  On  this  day  the  presence  of  celes- 
tial legions  did  not  animate  the  battalions  of  the  Crusaders, 
and  the  martyrs  St.  George  and  St.  Demetrius,  whom  they 
always  believed  they  saw  in  great  perils,  had  no  occasion  to 
be  present  in  this  fight.  The  Christians  must  have  learnt 
from  this  rencontre  that  their  new  adversaries  were  much 
less  to  be  dreaded  than  the  Turks.  The  Egyptian  army  was 
composed  of  many  difierent  nations,  which  were  divided 
among  themselves ;  the  greater  part  of  the  Mussulman 
troops  had  been  le^-ied  in  haste,  and  fought  for  the  first  time. 
The  army  of  the  Crusaders,  on  the  contrary,  had  been  proved 
by  manv  victories,  and  their  leaders  were  as  skilful  as  thev 
were  brave.     The  bold  resolution  that  Godfrey  had  taken  of 

*  Eos  tanquam  segetem  in  transverse  gladii  secabant. — Bald.  lib.  iv. 

t  Subito  sagitta  transfigebant,  et  quasi  aves  volatili  telo  percussas,  ab 
ipsis  arborum  ramis  moribimdos  humi  procumbere  cogebant. — Alb.  Aq. 
lib.  V.  cap.  49. 

X  Anna  Comnena,  who  speaks  of  the  battle  of  Ascalon,  says  that  the 
Franks  were  at  first  conquerors,  and  that  they  were  afterwards  attacked 
and  beaten  near  Ramla.  She  mentions  Baldwin,  who  was  not  then  in 
Palestine,  and  did  not  come  thither  till  after  the  death  of  Godfrey.  It  is 
easy  to  see  that  she  confounds,  as  often  happens  with  her,  two  different 
periods,  that  of  the  battle  of  Ascalon  and  that  of  the  battle  of  Ramla, 
which  was  fought  three  years  after,  in  the  reign  of  Baldwin  I. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  243 

going  to  meet  tlie  enemy,  raised  the  confidence  of  the  sol- 
diers, and  assisted  in  creating  fear  and  disorder  among  the 
Egyptians.* 

if  AYilliam  of  Tyre  and  Eobert  the  Monk  may  be  believed, 
the  Christians  did  not  lose  a  single  horseman.  They  might 
have  made  themselves  masters  of  Ascalon,  but  want  of  union 
among  the  leaders  prevented  their  taking  due  advantage  of 
their  victory. t 

After  the  defeat  of  the  enemy,  Raymond  had  sent  a  mes- 
senger into  the  place  to  summon  the  garrison  to  surrender.;!; 
He  wished  to  plant  his  standard  on  the  walls  of  the  city, 
and  retain  the  conquest  for  himself.  On  the  other  hand, 
Grodfrey  claimed  the  possession  of  it  and  maintained  that 
Ascalon  ought  to  form  part  of  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem. 
The  debates  became  very  warm.  The  count  of  Thoulouse, 
who  found  all  the  leaders  of  the  Christian  army  against  him, 
listened  to  nothing  but  the  dictates  of  his  blind  anger ;  he 
recommended  the  garrison  to  defend  themselves,  and  set 
forward  with  his  troops  to  return  to  Jerusalem.  Godfrey, 
after  the  desertion  of  Eaymond,  in  vain  attempted  to  besiege 
the  city.  The  greater  part  of  the  Crusaders,  impatient  to 
return  to  their  own  country,  abandoned  his  colours ;  and, 
after  making  the  inhabitants  and  garrison  of  Antioch  pay 

*  It  is  commonly  believed  that  this  battle  of  Ascalon  served  Tasso  as  a 
model  for  the  great  battle  which  terminates  the  Jerusalem  Delivered.  It 
is  easy  to  see  that  the  poet  had  also  in  view  the  battle  of  Antioch,  which 
was  fought  at  the  gates  of  the  city,  of  which  the  ChristiMns  were  the  mas- 
ters. Raymond  could  not  be  present,  because  he  held  the  citadel  of 
Antioch  in  check,  still  in  the  power  of  the  enemy.  These  circumstances, 
and  several  others,  are  found  equally  in  the  battle  of  tbe  Jerusalem 
Delivered  and  in  the  historians  who  have  described  the  battle  of  Antioch. 

•j"  There  is  in  the  Arabian  history  of  Jerusalem  and  Hebron,  a  quatrain 
addressed  to  the  count  of  St.  Gilles,  upon  the  drfeat  of  Afdhal-Ben-Bedr- 
al-Djemaly,  general  of  the  army  of  Egypt,  before  Ascalon  : — 

Tu  as  fait  triompher  par  ton  epee  la  religion  du  Messie, 

Dieu  nous  preserve  d'un  homme  tel  que  Saint  Gilles  ! 

Jamais  les  hommes  n'avaient  entendu  rien  de  pareil  a  ce  qu'il  a  fait ; 

II  a  mis  dans  la  plus  honteuse  fuite  Afdhul. 

We  quote  this  quatrain  less  for  any  idea  that  it  contains,  than  to  show 
that  Raymond  enjoyed  great  fam.e  among  the  Mussulmans. 

X  This  emissary  is  called  Bohemond  by  Raymond  d'Agiles.  It  is 
believed  that  it  was  Phirous  who  gave  up  Antioch  to  the  Christians,  that 
had  taken  the  name  of  Bohemond. 

12* 


244  HISTORY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

him  a  considerable  sum,  lie  vras  obliged  to  follow  them  to 
Jerusalem. 

The  quarrel  which  was  begun  between  Eaymond  and 
Godfrey  before  Ascalon  was  renewed  a  few  days  after  before 
the  city  of  Arsouf,  situated  near  the  sea,  twelye  miles  to  the 
north  of  Eamla.  The  count  of  St.  Gilles,  who  marched  first 
with  his  troops,  undertook  to  besiege  this  place,  but  as  he 
met  with  an  obstinate  resistance,  he  abandoned  the  siege, 
and  continued  his  march,  after  ha\-ing  warned  the  garrison 
that  they  had  nothing  to  fear  from  the  king  of  Jerusalem. 
A  short  time  after,  G-odfrey  haying  besieged  the  city,  found 
the  Saracens  determined  to  defend  themselyes,  and  as  he 
learnt  that  their  resistance  was  the  fruit  of  the  counsels  of 
Eaymond,  he  could  not  restrain  his  anger,  but  resolyed  to 
ayenge  this  affront  in  the  blood  of  his  riyal.  He  marched 
with  his  ensigns  displayed,  against  the  count  de  St.  Gilles, 
who,  on  his  part,  was  willing  to  meet  him,  and  prepared  for 
the  conflict.  The  Christians  were  on  the  point  of  pro- 
ceeding to  extremities,  when  the  two  Eoberts  and  Tancred 
threw  themselyes  betvyeen  Eaymond  and  Godfrey,  and  used 
their  utmost  exertions  to  appease  them.  After  a  long  alter- 
cation, the  two  riyals,  oyercome  by  the  prayers  of  the  other 
chiefs,  embraced  in  the  presence  of  their  soldiers,  who  had 
taken  part  in.  their  animosity. 

The  reconciliation  was  sincere  on  both  sides.  The  pious 
Godfrey,  says  Albert  d'Aix,  conjured  his  companions  to 
forget  the  dissension  that  had  broken  out  among  the  Chris- 
tian warriors,  and  implored  them,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  to 
remember  that  they  had  together  deliyered  the  holy  tomb, 
that  they  were  all  brothers  in  Christ,  and  that  concord  was 
still  necessary  to  defend  Jerusalem.  AYhen  the  inhabitants 
of  Arsouf  learnt  that  the  leaders  of  the  Christian  army  were 
reconciled,  they  repented  of  their  resistance,  and  engaged 
to  pay  a  tribute  to  Godfrey.* 

After  haying  receiyed  and  giyen  hostages  as  a  guarantee 
of  the  treaty,  Godfrey,  followed  by  all  the  other  chiefs, 
quitted  the  territory  of  Arsouf,  to  return  to  Jerusalem.  The 

Christian   army  was  loaded  with  an   immense  booty.     It 

»  t/ 

*  For  tliis  quarrel  between  Godfrey  and  Raymond,  see  Albert  d Aix, 
lib.  vi.  cap.  41,  42,  and  43. 


HISTORY    or    THE    CRUSADES.  245 

marched,  followed  by  the  di'oves  of  cattle  it  had  met  on  the 
banks  of  the  Sorec,  and  brought  back  all  the  riches  found 
in  the  camp  of  the  infidels.  As  they  approached  Jerusalem, 
all  the  trumpets  were  sounded,  and  their  victorious  flags 
were  unfurled.  A  crowd  of  pilgrims,  who  came  out  to  meet 
them,  filled  the  air  with  their  songs  of  gladness  ;  these  lively 
expressions  of  joy  mingled  with  the  hymns  of  the  priests ; 
the  echoes,  says  Eobert  the  Monk,  repeated  the  sounds  of 
the  warlike  instruments  and  the  acclamations  of  the  Chris- 
tians, and  appeared  to  offer  an  application  of  these  words 
of  Isaiah:  "  The  mountains  and  the  hills  shall  sing  before 
you  the  praises  of  the  Lordy  The  Crusaders  entered  the 
holy  city  in  triumph.  The  great  standard  and  the  sword  of 
the  sultan  were  suspended  on  the  columns  of  the  church  of 
the  Holy  Sepulchre.  All  the  pilgrims,  assembled  in  the 
very  places  which  the  emir  Afdhal  had  sworn  utterly  to 
destroy,  returned  thanks  to  Heaven  for  a  victory  which 
crowned  all  their  labours. 

The  victory  of  Ascalon  was  the  last  of  this  crusade.  At 
length,  liberated  from  their  vows,  after  four  years  of  toils 
and  dangers,  the  princes  of  the  crusade  quitted  Jerusalem, 
whose  sole  means  of  defence  now  were  three  hundred 
knights,  the  wisdom  of  Grodfrey,  and  the  sword  of  Tancred, 
who  had  resolved  to  end  his  days  in  Asia.  Some  embarked 
on  the  Mediterranean,  whilst  others  marched  across  Svria 
and  Asia  Minor.  They  arrived  in  the  West  bearing  palm 
branches  in  their  hands,  and  singing  hymns  of  triumph  on 
their  way.  Their  return  was  considered  as  a  miracle,  a  sort 
of  resurrection,  and  their  presence  was  everpvhere  looked 
upon  as  a  subject  of  edification  and  enthusiasm.  INIost  of 
them  had  been  ruined  by  the  holy  war ;  but  they  brought 
back  from  the  East  precious  relics,  Avhich  were  in  the  eyes 
of  the  faithful  a  veritable  treasure.*     Their  hearers  were 

*  In  the  genealogical  history  of  several  houses  of  Brittany,  is  the  fol- 
lowing rather  curious  passage  :  "  Rion  de  Loheac  acquired  in  this  voyage 
beautiful  and  rich  spoils  from  the  enemies  of  Christianity,  the  Saracens  ; 
and  above  all  things  he  was  curious  to  seek  for  and  collect  heaps  of  the 
sacred  and  precious  relics  which  were  in  those  regions,  in  the  number  of 
which  was  a  part  and  portion  of  the  true  cross  upon  which  our  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ  suffered  death  for  the  salvation  of  the  human  race,  and  of 
the  stone  of  the  sepulchre  in  which  the  said  Saviour  was  buried.  These 
relics  he  intended  to  bring  into  his  own  country  ;  but  being  prevented  by 


246  HISTORY    Oi'    THE    CBl'SADES'. 

never  tired  of  listening  to  the  recital  of  their  lahours  and 
exploits.     Tears,  doubtless,  mingled  with  the  transports  of 
admiration  and  joy  when  they  spoke  of  their  numerous  com- 
panions whom  death  had  swept  away  in  Asia.     There  was 
not  a  family  that  had  not  to  weep  a  defender  of  the  cross,  or 
did  not  glorifr  itself  with  having  a  martyr  in  heaven.    An- 
cient chronicles  have  celebrated  the  heroic  devotion  of  Ida, 
countess  of  Hainault,  who  made  the  voyage  to  the  East,  and 
braved  all  dangers  in  search  of  her  husband.     Sent  by  the 
Crusaders  to  Alexius,  the  count  of  Hainault,  with  all  the 
persons  of  his  suite,  had  disappeared,  without  any  one  being 
able  to  say  what  had  been  their  fate.     Some  said  they  were 
still  prisoners  among  the  Turks,  others  that  they  were  killed. 
Ida  sought  through  many  countries  of  Asia,  but  returned  to 
France  without  ha^"ing  obtained  any  tidmgs  of  her  husband.* 
The  count  of  Thoulouse,  who  had  sworn  never  to  retiun 
to  the  AYest,  went  to  Constantinople,  where  the  emperor 
received  him  with  distinction,  and  gave  him  the  city  of  Lao- 
dicea,    Eaymond  of  Orange  determined  to  share  the  destiny 
of  the  count  of  Thoulouse,  and  finish  his  davs  in  the  East. 
Among  the  knights,  companions  of  Eaymond  de  St.  Gilles, 
who   returned  to  their  own  coimtry,  we  must  not  forget 
Stephen  and  Peter  de  Salviac  de  Yiel  Castel,  whom  their  age 
holds  up  as  models  of  brotherly  love.     Stephen  and  Peter 
de  Salviac  were  twins,  and  the  tenderest  affection  united 
them  from  their  infancy.     Peter  assumed  the  cross  at  the 
council  of  Clermont,  and  Stephen,  although  married,  and  the 
father  of  several  children,  determined  to  follow  his  brother 
into  Asia,  and  share  with  him  the  perils  of  so  long  a  voyage. 
In   all  battles  they  were  seen  fighting  side   by  side,   and 
they  together  were  present  at  the  sieges  of  2>^ice,  Antioch, 

a  disease  of  which  he  died  in  the  said  country  of  Syria,  he  sent  them  to 
his  brother  Gauthier  de  Loheac,  by  bis  squire  called  Simon  de  Ludron, 
who  had  accompanied  him  in  this  voyage."  "We  might  quote  many  other 
similar  facts  which  prove  that  the  Christians  of  the  West  set  the  greatest 
vaJue  upon  reUcs  brought  from  the  East. 

*  This  circumstance  is  related  in  the  Chronicle  of  Hainault  (Gisle- 
herti  Chronica  Haniionice ;) — Tacendum  non  est,  says  this  chronicle, 
quod  uxor  ejus  Yda  comitissa  doraini  sui  occasum  ut  audivit,  sed  incerta 
si  occisus  fuerit,  vel  captus  teneretur,  Deum  et  virum  suum  dUigens, 
partes  illas  eum  labore  magno  et  gravibus  expensis  adire  non  dubitavit : 
unde  ipsa  prius  de  viro  suo  incerta,  incertior  rediit. — P.  37. 


UlSTOKY    OjT    the    CRUSADES.  247 

and  Jerusalem.  A  sliort  time  after  their  return  to  Le 
Quercy,  they  both  died  in  the  same  week,  and  were  buried 
in  the  same  tomb.  On  their  tomb  may  still  be  read  an 
epitaph  which  has  transmitted  to  us  the  remembrance  of 
their  exploits  and  of  their  touching  affection.  Graston  de 
Beam  returned  with  them  into  Ein-ope  ;  but  some  years  after, 
having  re-entered  upon  his  estates,  he  again  took  up  arms 
against  the  infidels,  and  -died  in  Spain,  fighting  against  the 
Moors. 

Peter  the  Hermit,  on  his  return  to  his  country,  concealed 
himself  from  the  eager  ciu-iosity  of  the  faithfid,  and  shut 
himself  up  in  a  monastery  he  had  founded  at  Huy.*  He 
lived  there,  in  humility  and  penitence,  and  was  buried  among 
the  cenobites  he  had  edified  by  his  vii'tues.  Eustace,  the 
brother  of  Godfrey  and  Baldwin,  returned  to  take  possession 
of  the  moderate  inheritance  of  the  family,  and  gave  no  fur- 
ther trouble  to  fame  by  his  exploits.  Alain  Eergent,  duke 
of  Brittany,  and  Eobert,  coimt  of  Elanders,  returned  to  their 
states,  repaired  the  evils  caused  by  their  absence,  and  died 
regretted  by  their  subjects.f 

The  duke  of  ISTormandy  was  less  fortunate  than  his  com- 
panions. The  sight  of  the  holy  places,  or  the  long  series  of 
labours  and  evils  he  had  endured  in  the  cause  of  religion, 
had  had  no  effect  upon  his  indolent,  undecided  character. 
On  his  return  from  the  Holy  Land,  he  passed  through  Italy, 
where  he  fell  in  love  with  Sibylla,  the  daughter  of  the  count 
of  Conversana,  and  allowed  his  passion  to  detain  him  from 

*  See  the  Life  of  Peter  the  Hermit,  by  le  P.  d'Oultremont.  Peter 
the  Hermit  was  returning  from  the  Holy  Land  in  1102,  with  a  nobleman 
of  the  country  of  Liege,  named  the  count  de  Montaign,  when  he  was 
assailed  by  a  violent  tempest,  during  which  he  made  a  vow  to  build  an 
abbey.  It  was  in  performance  of  this  vow  that  he  founded  the  abhey 
of  Neufmontier  at  Huy,  in  Le  Condrez,  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
Meuse,  in  honour  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  of  Jerusalem.  Alexander, 
bishop  of  Liege,  dedicated  it  in  1130.  Peter  died  there  at  an  advanced 
age,  and  desired,  from  humility,  to  be  buried  outside  the  church.  It  was 
not  till  a  hundred  and  thirty  years  after  his  death  that  the  abbot  and 
the  chapter  caused  his  relics  to  be  removed  to  a  coffin  covered  with  marble 
before  the  altar  of  the  twelve  apostles,  in  the  year  1242,  with  a  sufficiently 
long  epitaph,  which  M  Morard,  of  the  Academy  of  Sciences,  read  on 
passing  through  Huy  in  1761,  which  is  reported  in  the  3rd  vol.  of  the 
MSS.  of  the  Library  of  Lyon,  by  M.  Delandine,  p.  481. 

f  Robert,  count  of  Flanders,  was  killed  by  a  fall  from  his  horse. 


24:8  niSTOEX    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

his  duchy  more  than  a  year.  By  this  delay  he  lost  the 
opportunity  of  ascending  the  throne  of  England,  to  which, 
after  the  death  of  his  brother  AYilliam  Eufus,  his  birth,  and 
the  great  reno\^'n  he  had  acquired  in  the  crusade,  gave  him 
undoubted  right.  AYhen  at  length  he  returned  to  Isov- 
mandy,  he  was  received  with  transports  of  admiration  and 
joy ;  but  upon  resuming  the  reins  of  government,  he  showed 
nothing  but  weakness ;  he  gave  himself  up  entirely  to  de- 
•bauchery,  and  surrounded  himself  by  none  but  dissipated, 
greedy  courtiers,  who  drew  upon  him  the  hatred  of  his  sub- 
jects. His  brother,  Henry  I.,  who  had  succeeded  William 
liufus,  took  advantage  of  the  degraded  condition  of  Eobert, 
and  the  contempt  into  which  he  was  fallen,  to  take  posses- 
sion of  Xormandy.  At  the  end  of  a  battle  this  finfortunate 
prince  was  made  prisoner  by  his  brother,  who  led  him  in 
triumph  to  England,  and  caused  him  to  be  confined  in  the 
castle  of  Carditf,  in  the  province  of  Grlamorgan.  The  remem- 
brance of  his  exploits  in  the  Holy  Land  had  no  effect  in 
mitigating  his  misfortunes.  After  twenty-eight  years  of 
captivity,  he  died  forgotten  by  his  subjects,  his  allies,  and 
the  ancient  companions  of  his  glor^'. 

The  return  of  the  Crusaders,  and  the  account  of  their 
conquests,  excited  great  enthusiasm,  and  renewed  the  eager- 
ness for  crusades  and  pilgrimages  among  the  nations  of  the 
West.  They  were  not  now  affected  by  the  passion  for  de- 
livering the  holy  places,  but  by  that  of  visiting  and  defending 
them.  Europe  exhibited  a  second  time  the  scenes  which 
had  followed  the  council  of  Clermont ;  new  discourses  were 
heard,  and  fresh  miracles  related.  Cities,  lands,  and  castles 
M'ere  again  offered  for  sale.  He  who  preferred  repose  and 
his  country  to  the  glory  of  the  holy  pilgrimage  passed  for  a 
very  lukewarm  Christian ;  whilst  all  who  had  quitted  the 
standard  of  the  crusade  were  objects  of  contempt  in  the 
eves  of  the  faithful,  and  were  threatened  with  the  thunders 
of  the  Church, 

A  general  cry  was  raised  against  the  brother  of  the  king 
of  France,  who  could  not  be  pardoned  for  ha\'ing  abandoned 
the  Christian  armv  in  a  cowardly  manner,  and  retuimed  to 
Europe  A^-ithout  seeing  Jerusalem.  Stephen,  count  of 
Chartres  and  Blois,  was  not  allowed  to  remain  in  peace  in 
his  states  and  family ;   his  people  were  astonished  at  his 


HISTORY   OF    THE    CRUSADES.  24i9 

shameful  desertion,  and  his  wife  Adela  reproached  him  with 
having  shrunk  from  the  duties  of  religion  and  chivalry. 
These  unfortunate  princes,  and  all  who  had  deserted  the 
standards  of  the  holy  vrar,  were  obliged  to  quit  Prance,  and 
again  take  the  route  for  Asia. 

Many  of  the  princes  and  barons  who  had  not  partaken  of 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  first  Crusaders,  accused  themselves  of 
culpable  indifference,  and  were  drawTi  into  the  general  move- 
ment. Among  these  latter  was  William  IX.,  count  of  Poic- 
tiers,  a  relation  of  the  emperor  of  Germany,  and  the  most 
powerful  vassal  of  the  king  of  Prance.  An  amiable  and 
intelligent  prince,  of  not  at  all  a  warlike  character,  he  left, 
to  take  up  the  pilgrim's  staff,  a  voluptuous  and  gallant  court, 
which  he  had  often  delighted  with  his  songs.  He  took  upon 
him  the  cross  at  Limoges,  and  set  out  for  the  East,  accom- 
panied by  a  great  number  of  his  vassals,  among  whom  were 
a  vast  many  women  and  youug  girls. ^  His  example  was 
followed  by  William,  count  of  Nevers,  Orpin,  count  of 
♦  Bourges,  and  Eude,  duke  of  Burgundy.  This  last  prince, 
perhaps,  was  influenced  less  by  a  desire  of  visitmg  Jerusalem 
than  by  his  anxiety  to  recover  the  remains  of  his  daughter 
Plorine,  who  had  been  killed  with  Sweno  in  Asia  Minor. 

In  Italy,  Albert,  count  of  Blandras,  and  Anselm,  arch- 
bishop of  Milan,  placed  themselves  at  the  head  of  a 
countless  multitude  of  pilgrims.  Germany  witnessed  the 
departure  of  Conrad,  marshal  of  the  emperor  Henry,  "VYolf 
IX.,  duke  of  Bavaria,  the  princess  Ida,  margravine  of  Austria; 
and  a  great  number  of  lords  and  knights. 

In  this  new  expedition,  as  in  the  first,  many  of  the  Cru- 
saders were  led  away  by  a  desire  for  seeking  adventures  and 
visiting  foreign  countries.  The  brilliant  success  of  Bald\vin, 
Bohemond,  and  Godfrey  aroused  the  ambition  of  the  barons 
who   had   remained   in  Europe.      Humbert    II.,  count  of 

*  William  IX.  is  the  first  troubadour  known.  He  was  a  valorous  and 
courteous  knight,  but  a  great  deceiver  of  ladies.  He  bade  adieu  in  a 
song  to  the  Limousin,  to  Poitou,  to  chivalry,  which  he  had  loved  so  much, 
and  to  mundane  vanities,  which  he  describes  as  coloured  habits  and 
beautiful  hose.  On  his  return  he  sang  the  fatigues,  the  dangers,  and  the 
misfortunes  of  this  expedition,  in  a  poem  which  is  lost.  His  usual  gaiety 
pervaded  it,  according  to  Oderic  Vital,  in  spite  of  the  sadness  of  the  sub 
ject. — See  the  History  of  the  Troubadours,  by  Millet,  torn.  1. 


250  HISTORY    Of    tilt:    CPlVSADES. 

Savoy,  who  set  out  for  the  Holv  Land  with  Hugh  the  Great, 
made  a  donation  to  the  monks  of  the  Bourget,  in  order  to 
obtain  by  theii-  prayers,  a  fortimate  establishment  {consulat) 
in  his  foreisTi  Tovacre.*  Mauv  lords  andkniirhts  made  similar 
donations,  whilst  others  founded  monasteries  and  churches, 
setting  out  with  the  hope  that  God  would  bless  their 
arras,  and  enable  them  to  acquire  rich  principalities  in  the 
East. 

The  Crusaders  assembled  in  several  troops,  and  crossing 
the  territories  of  the  Hungarians  and  Budorarians,  united 
under  the  walls  of  Constantinople  to  the  amount  of  two 
hundred  thousand.  These  new  pilgrims  repeated  the  scenes 
of  'violence  which  had  so  seriously  alarmed  Alexius  in  the 
first  expedition.  The  Greek  emperor,  faithful  to  his  poKcy, 
opposed  force  by  cimning ;  he  flattered  the  vanity  or  the 
avarice  of  men  he  coidd  not  subdue,  and  paid  veiy  dearly 
for  the  insincere  homage  of  the  leaders  of  the  crusade.  He 
called  Eaymond  to  liis  assistance,  who  was  then  in  his 
government  of  Laodicea.  The  presence  and  the  persuasive 
discoiu*se3  of  the  count  of  Thoulouse  calmed  the  perturbed 
spirits  of  the  Crusaders  for  a  few  days  ;  and  when  they  set 

*  Guichenon,  in  his  History  of  the  House  of  Savoy,  expresses  himself 
thus  :  "  William  Paradin  relates  that  this  prince  (Humbert,  second  count 
of  Savoy)  went  to  the  Holv  Land  in  the  crusade  which  was  determined  on 
at  the  council  of  Clermont,  under  Godfrey  of  Bouillon,"  which  the  greater 
part  of  the  historians  have  confirmed  after  him  (such  as  Pingon,  Vanderb. 
Dogliani,  Chieja,  Balderan,  Buttel,  and  Henning).  Papyrus  Ma* son  has 
rejected  this,  because  neither  the  manuscript  chronicle,  nor  the  authors 
of  the  crusades,  who  name  many  lords  of  less  consequence,  have  men- 
tioned him.  Botero  has  said  nothing  of  him.  "  Nevertheless  we  cannot 
doubt  this  voyage  ;  for  about  that  time  this  prince  save  the  monks  of  the 
Bourget  in  Suvoy  a  property  called  Gutin.  for  the  health  of  his  soul,  of 
that  of  count  Ame.  his  father,  and  of  his  ancestors.  This  donation,  dated 
at  d'Yenne  in  Savoy  (and  not  Jena  in  Thuringia,  as  is  said  in  the  Art  of 
Verifying  Dates),  imports  that  the  count  bestowed  this  liberality  to 
obtain  from  God  a  fortunate  establishment  (consulat)  in  his  voyage 
beyond  sea.  Now  this  word  consulat  then  signified  a  principality, 
government,  or  sovereignty.  Oderic  Vital  gives  to  Roger,  count  of 
Sicily,  the  title  of  consul  of  Sicily."  Guichenon  adds  here  many  other 
exam])!es  of  the  same  kind.  That  which  created  doubts  of  the  voyage  of 
Humbert  is  the  silence  of  the  historians  of  the  first  crusade,  as  we.l  as  all 
the  acts  of  this  prince  that  have  been  preserved,  and  which  prove  that  he 
was  in  Europe  in  the  year  1100  ;  but  all  these  doubts  vanish,  when  we 
know  that  he  went  in  the  second  expedition. 


HISTOIIT    or    THE    CKUSA.DES.  251 

forward  on  their  marcli  to  Palestine,  he  was  charged  with 
conducting  them  across  Asia  Minor. 

Among  this  confused  mass  of  pilgrims*  was  a  crowd  of 
monks,  old  men,  women,  and  young  girls.  They  were  with- 
out discipline,  and  marched  without  either  precaution  or 
order  ;  but  they  had  such  perfect  confidence  in  their  arms, 
that  they  boasted,  on  leaving  Constantinople,  that  they  would 
go  to  Bagdad,  and  wrest  Asia  from  the  hands  of  the  infidels. 
Their  troop  was  divided  into  three  bodies.  At  the  head  of 
the  first  were  the  duke  of  Burgundy,  the  count  of  Chartres, 
the  archbishop  of  jNIilan,  the  count  de  Blandras,  and  Ray- 
mond de  St.  Gilles.  "  The  archbishop  of  Milan,"  says 
Albert  d'Aix,  "  had  brought  into  Asia  an  arm  of  St.  Am- 
brose, with  which  he  gave  his  benediction  to  the  Crusaders. 
Kaymond  carried  with  him  the  lance  that  had  been  found  at 
Antioch,  to  which  he  looked  for  new  miracles." 

This  first  body,  advancing  towards  Paphlagonia,  took  the 
city  of  Ancyra  by  assault,  and  laid  siege  to  the  fortress  of 
G-angras.  The  garrison  made  a  strong  resistance,  and  forced 
the  Christians  to  retire.  They  were  in  want  of  provisions, 
and  entertained  but  little  hopes  of  obtaining  any  in  an 
enemy's  country ;  and  Avhilst  sinking  into  despondency 
they  quite  unexpectedly  found  themselves  confronted  by  a 
Turkish  army. 

Kilidge  Arslan,  who  had  retired  to  Iconium,  wdiich  became 
the  capital  of  his  states,  after  the  taking  of  Nice,  had  got 
together  the  remains  of  his  army,  and  recruited  his  strength. 
The  sultan  of  Mossoul,  that  same  Kerbogha  who,  three  years 
before,  had  lost  the  battle  of  Antioch,  had  joined  the  son  of 
Soliman,  and  burned  to  meet  the  Christians  again. 

Although  they  both  had  a  considerable  number  of  troops, 
they  contented  themselves,  at  first,  with  harassiug  the  Cru- 
saders in  their  march.  Sometimes  the  infidels  got  before 
the  Christians,  and  ravaged  the  country  and  filled  up  the 
wells  and  the  cisterns ;  whilst  at  others,  they  laid  ambushes 
for  them,  and  massacred  all  who  strayed  away  from  the  main 
body.    The  Christian  army  had  suffered  much  in  crossing  the 

*  The  details  of  this  last  expedition  are  found  scattered  in  the  works 
of  several  historians.  They  who  afford  the  most  information  are  Albert 
d'Aix,  Oderic  Vital,  Foulcher  de  Chartres,  Chronicon  Uspergensis, 
Alberici  Chronicon,  &c.  &c. 


252  HISTOIIT    OF    THE    CBUSADES. 

defiles  of  Paphlagonia  ;  and  fatigue,  hunger,  and  thirst  had 
greatly  weakened  the  strength  of  the  pilgrims,  when  the 
sultans  of  Mossoul  and  Icouium  determined  upon  giving 
them  battle  on  the  banks  of  the  Halys. 

Eavmoud,  before  the  eno:a2:ement,  caused  the  miraculous 
lance  to  be  carried  through  the  Christian  ranks ;  whilst  the 
archbishop  of  Milan,  followed  by  his  clergy,  exhibited  the 
arm  of  St.  Ambrose,  and  oftered  up  prayers  for  victory ;  but 
neither  the  prayers  of  the  clergy,  nor  the  sight  of  the  holy 
lance,  nor  even  the  prodigies  of  valour  displayed  by  the 
Crusaders,  could  secure  them  a  triumph.  After  a  sangui- 
nary conflict,  they  retired  to  their  camp  in  great  disorder. 
The  Tui'ks,  who  had  met  with  a  determined  resistance,  did 
not  at  first  dare  to  follow  up  their  victory,  and  satisfied 
themselves  with  remaining  masters  of  the  field  of  battle,  and 
plundering  the  dead.  During  the  night  the  Crusaders  became 
aware  of  the  extent  of  their  loss.  Raymond  and  the  other 
terrified  leaders  sought  safety  in  flight.  As  soon  as  their 
absence  was  discovered,  terror  and  despair  pervaded  the 
camp  of  the  Christians ;  every  one  attempted  to  fly,  aban- 
doning the  baggage,  the  sick  and  the  wounded.  The  roads 
were  soon  covered  with  soldiers,  women,  and  children,  who 
embarrassed  each  other  in  their  confusion,  and  were  igno- 
rant where  they  might  meet  vdth  the  enemy,  or  where  they 
should  look  for  the  Christian  army.  The  Turks,  rendered 
aware  of  their  victory  by  the  cries  and  groans  which  re- 
sounded from  the  neighbouring  mountains,  hastened  to  the 
camp  of  the  Crusaders,  massacring  or  making  prisoners  all 
they  met.  They  then  hotly  pursued  the  fugitives,  slaugh- 
terino:  them  without  mercy.  The  darkness  of  the  night 
added  to  the  horrors  of  this  scene  of  carnage.  The  pilgrims 
lost  themselves  in  their  confusion,  and  seemed  to  se^ 
the  swords  they  wished  to  avoid;  others  stopped  ex- 
hausted by  fatigue,  and  awaited  death  as  an  end  of  their 
calamities. 

When  day  appeared,  the  country  was  covered  with  the 
bloody,  plundered  bodies  of  the  Christians.  Eaymond  de 
St.  Gilles,  the  duke  of  Burgundy,  the  count  of  Chartres, 
the  count  of  Biandras,  and  some  other  leaders  who  had  fled 
by  difi*erent  routes,  met  at  Sinope,  where  they  could  scarcely 
gather  around  them  a  few  thousand  men,  the  remains  of  au 


HISTORY    or    THE    CUUSADES.  253 

amiy  "whicli  had  counted  under  its  standards  more  than  a 
hundred  thousand  pilgrims. 

A  second  army  of  Crusaders,  led  by  the  count  de  Nevers 
and  the  count  de  Bourges,  advanced  as  far  as  Ancyra,  and 
directed  its  course  towards  Heraclea.*  This  army  looked 
for  traces  of  that  which  had  preceded  it ;  but  instead  of 
finding  the  Christians,  they  soon  met  with  the  victorious 
anny  of  the  Turks,  which  came  to  meet  them,  attacked  them, 
and  routed  them.  The  count  de  Nevers  with  great  difficulty 
found  refuge  in  Germanicopolis.  Taking  for  guides  some 
Grreek  soldiers,  he  was  pillaged  and  abandoned  by  them  in  a 
desert.  He  v\'ent  through  the  greatest  dangers  for  several 
days  ;  and,  exhausted  with  fatigue  and  covered  with  rags,  he 
at  length  arrived  at  Antioch,  whither  the  news  of  his  defeat 
had  preceded  him. 

A  third  troop,  composed,  according  to  the  authors  of  the 
time,  of  more  than  a  hundred  and  hfty  thousand  pilgrims, 
set  out  from  Constantinople  under  the  orders  of  the  count 
of  Poictiers,  the  duke  of  Bavaria,  and  Hugh  de  Vermandois. 
They  took  possession  of  Philomelium  and  Samalia,  and 
marched  across  devastated  provinces  towards  the  city  of 
Stankon,  where  they  expected  to  unite  themselves  with  the 
army  of  the  count  de  Nevers.  It  was  before  this  city  that 
the  pilgrims  heard  of  the  disasters  and  defeat  of  the  Chris- 
tian armies  that  had  preceded  them.  They  advanced  towards 
Heraclea,  and  were  not  long  in  meeting  with  the  army  of 
Kilidge  Arslan,  which  was  waiting  for  them  in  an  advan- 
tageous position.  As  they  had  no  longer  anything  to  hope 
for  except  from  their  courage,  they  did  not  seek  to  avoid  the 
enemy.  A  rividet  which  separated  the  Christians  from  the 
infidels,  was  the  signal  and  the  theatre  of  battle.  The  Cru- 
saders, pressed  by  thirst,  rushed  towards  it  in  crowds.  The 
Turks  immediately  discharged  upon  them  a  shower  of  jave- 
lins and  arrows.  The  two  armies  were  soon  completely 
engaged;  but  the  Christians  fighting  in  a  confined  and 
marshy  place,  could  neither  draw  up  their  forces  nor  make 
use  of  the  lance  or  the  sword.  Their  bravery  and  their 
efforts  were  of  no  avail  against  the  sldlful  manoeuvres  of 
Kerbogha  and  Kilidge  Arslan.     The  Turks  penetrated  the 

*  For  these  various  positions,  see  the  Map  and  the  explanatory  Memoir. 


254  HISTOET    or    THE    CHUSADES. 

Christian  armv  eyery where  ;  the  carnage  was  horrible ; 
scarcely  a  thousand  of  the  Crusaders  escaped  from  either 
death  or  slavery.  The  margravine  of  Austria  disappeared 
amidst  the  tumult  of  the  battle.  Some  say  that  she  was 
crushed  under  the  feet  of  the  horses ;  whilst  others  assert 
that  she  fell  iuto  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  went  to  live 
and  die  in  the  harem  of  the  sultan  of  Mossoul.  The  greater 
part  of  the  women  and  young  girls  that  followed  the  Chris- 
tian army  met  with  the  same  fate.  The  count  of  Yer- 
mandois,  pierced  by  two  arrows,  fled  across  Lycaonia,  and 
arrived  with  a  feeble  escort  at  the  city  of  Tarsus,  Avhere  he 
died  of  his  wounds. 

The  duke  of  Bavaria  and  the  count  of  Poictiers,  after 
having  wandered  a  long  time  in  deserts  and  forests,  arrived 
almost  naked  at  Antioch,  in  which  city  were  assembled  all 
the  Crusaders  that  had  escaped  after  their  defeat.  The 
leaders,  by  gathering  together  the  wrecks  of  their  troops, 
were  able  to  form  an  army  of  ten  thousand  men,  with  which 
they  marched  to  Jerusalem.  Whilst  coasting  the  Sea  of 
Syria,  they  took  the  city  of  Tortosa,  which  they  gave  up  to 
Ea^Tnond,  although  they  had  accused  him.,  only  a  few  days 
before,  of  having  been  the  cause  of  all  their  disasters. 
Upon  their  arrival  in  Palestine,  they  found  new  enemies  to 
contend  with.  The  duke  of  Burgundy*  and  the  count  of 
Blois  were  killed  in  a  battle  fought  near  Eamla.  Arpin, 
coimt  de  Berri,t  fell  ali^e  into  the  hands  of  the  Saracens, 
and  died  in  slavery.  The  count  de  Blandras,  the  count  of 
Savoy,  "William,  count  of  Poictiers,  the  count  de  Xevers,  and 
the  duke  of  Bavaria  only  led  a  small  number  of  their  soldiers 
back  to  Europe. :|: 

*  The  body  of  the  duke  of  Burgundy  was  brought  back  to  France,  and 
buried  at  Citeaux.  Urban  Planchier  says  in  his  history,  that  they  ob- 
served the  anniversary  of  the  death  of  this  prince  on  the  Friday  before 
Passion  Sunday.  After  the  death  of  her  husband,  ■Slahaul,  the  wife  of 
Eude,  and  mother  of  Floiine,  retired  to  the  abbey  of  Fontevrault. 

+  It  has  been  said  ti^at  Arpin,  on  setting  out  for  the  crusade,  sold  the 
county  of  Beiri  to  Philip,  king  of  France,  for  the  sum  of  60,000  crowns. 
This  is  the  way  in  which  the  fact  is  related  in  the  Hintori/  of  Berri :  "  King 
Piiilip  redeemed  his  city  of  Bourges,  which  Henry  his  father  had  engaged 
for  60.000  Ciowns,  froin  Arpin.  Thus  Bourges  returned  to  its  natural 
prince." — History  of  Berri,  by  Chaumeau,  p.  97. 

X  Ancient  historians  contain  many  other  details  concerning  this  expe- 
dition that  we  have  not  thought  it  necessary  to  notice.     This  expedition 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CFvUSADES.  255 

Such  are  tlie  principal  events  of  tlie  first  crusade,  the 
commencement  and  the  end  of  which  were  marked  by  the 
greatest  disasters,  and  which  deprived  Europe  of  more  than 
a  milUon  of  men.  When  we  reflect  on  the  energies  dis- 
played and  the  forces  employed  in  this  expedition  hy  the 
West,  we  are  at  first  astonished  that  it  did  not  succeed. 

It  has  often  been  repeated,  when  speaking  of  this  holy 
war,  in  which  the  East  beheld  an  army  of  six  hundred  thou- 
sand men  brought  against  it,  "  that  Alexander  conquered 
Asia  Avith  thirty  thousand  men."  It  is  more  than  probable 
that  the  Grreeks  who  wrote  the  life  of  Alexander  have  dimi- 
nished the  number  of  his  forces  in  order  to  heighten  the 
splendour  of  his  victories  ;*  but,  be  that  as  it  may,  it  must 
be  admitted  that  the  expedition  of  the  Macedonian  con- 
queror did  not  present  the  same  dangers,  or  the  same  obsta- 
cles that  the  Crusaders  had  to  encounter.  The  armies 
which  left  Greece  for  Asia  had  less  to  suffer  from  change  of 
climate,  or  the  length  and  difficulties  of  the  voyage  than 
those  who  came  from  the  extremities  of  the  West.  The 
Macedonians,  in  their  invasion  of  the  East,  had  scarcely  any 
nation  to  contend  with  but  the  Persians,  an  efieminate  peo- 
ple, previously  several  times  vanquished  by  the  Greeks ; 
whilst  the  Crusaders  had  to  pass  through  a  crowd  of  un- 
known, barbarous  hordes,  and  when  arrived  in  Asia,  foimd, 
as  enemies,  several  nations  of  conquerors. 

The  Greeks  of  Alexander's  expedition  did  not  go  into  Asia 
to  introduce  new  laws,  or  change  the  manners  and  religion 
of  the  people ;  they  even  adopted  something  of  the  costumes 
and  usages  of  the  Persians,  which  very  much  facilitated  their 
conquests. t  In  the  crusades,  on  the  contrary,  Ave  behold  two 

presents  nothing  but  scenes  of  carnage  and  reverses,  without  glory  or 
results.     We  shall  be  obliged  to  return  to  it  hereafter. 

*  Alexander,  say  the  Greek  historians,  had  thirtj'^  thousand  infantry 
and  five  thousand  horse.  A  single  historian,  Anaximenes,  makes  the 
Macedonian  army  amount  to  forty-eight  thousand  men. 

t  The  Turks,  thirty  years  before  the  taking  of  Jerusalem  by  the  Chris- 
tians, had  scarcely  met  with  any  resistance  to  their  invasions  of  some  of 
the  richest  provinces  of  Asia,  because  the  Mussulman  religion,  which 
they  had  recently  embraced,  was  that  of  the  countries  against  which  they 
directed  their  arms.  If  the  Tartars  at  different  epochs  have  invaded 
several  countries  of  the  globe,  and  have  maintained  themselves  in  them, 
it  was  because  on  issuing  from  their  deserts  they  had  almost  no  religic  i, 


26Q  HisTOEY  or  tue  chusades. 

religions  armed  one  against  the  other,  which  redoubled  tlie 
hatred  of  the  combatants,  and  forbade  all  approximatioD. 
As  soon  as  the  standard  of  Mahomet  floated  over  a  city,  the 
Christians  fled  from  it ;  whilst  the  cross  of  the  Christians 
had  the  same  effect  upon  the  Mussulmans.  As  the  greater 
part  of  the  jMussulman  cities  which  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  Christians  were  deserted,  the  latter  were  obliged  to 
people  the  provinces  thev  conquered,  and  exhaust  their 
armies,  to  found,  in  some  sort,  colonies  wherever  their  arms 
triumplied.  If  it  be  allowed  that  no  wars  are  more  san- 
guinaiy  than  religious  wars,  there  are  certainly  none  in 
which  it  is  more  difficult  for  a  conqueror  to  extend  or  preserve 
his  conquests.  This  is  a  very  important  observation,  if  we 
would  appreciate  the  results  of  this  crusade. 

On  all  occasions  where  bravery  alone  was  required,  nothing 
can  be  comparable  to  the  exploits  of  the  Crusaders.  When 
reduced  to  a  small  number  of  combatants,  they  triumphed  no 
less  over  their  enemies  than  when  they  consisted  of  vast  armies. 
Forty  thousand  Christians  obtained  possession  of  Jerusalem, 
defended  by  a  garrison  of  sixty  thousand  Saracens.  There  re- 
mained scarcely  twenty  thousand  men  under  their  standards, 
when  they  had  to  contend  with  all  the  forces  of  the  East  in 
the  plains  of  Ascalon.  If  Alexander  performed  greater 
things,  and  particularly  if  he  conquered  a  greater  number  of 
nations,  it  was  because  he  commanded  a  disciplined  army,  of 
which  he  was  the  absolute  leader.  All  his  military  and 
political  operations  were  directed  by  one  same  mind  and  one 
same  will.  It  was  not  thus  in  the  army  of  the  Crusaders, 
which  was  composed  of  many  nations,  and  held  within  itself 
the  fatal  germs  of  license  and  disorder.  The  feudal  anarchy 
Avith  which  Europe  was  then  distracted  followed  the  defenders 
of  the  cross  into  Asia,  and  that  turbident  spirit  of  the 
knights,   which   constantly  led  them  to   have  recoiu'se  to 

and  were  thus  disposed  to  adopt  any  advantageous  faith  they  might  meet 
with  in  their  passage.  It  will  be  objected  to  me  that  the  Arabians,  in  the 
first  ages  of  the  Hegira,  invaded  a  great  part  of  Asia  and  Africa,  where 
they  found  orher  religions  than  their  own  long  established  ;  but  it  may  be 
answered  that  these  religions  were  sinking  to  decay.  When  the  Mussul- 
mans presented  themst-lves  in  Europe,  where  the  Christian  religion  was 
better  established  than  in  the  East,  this  religion  offered  an  insurmountable 
barrier  to  their  progress. 


HISTOIIT    or    TUE    CEUSADES.  267 

arms,  was  precisely  that  which  checked  and  bounded  their 
conquests. 

When  we  think  of  their  ever  reviving  discords,  of  the 
calamities  which  were  the  consequences  of  thein,  of  that 
excess  of  bravery  that  made  them  commit  so  many  faults, 
of  that  want  of  foresight  which  they  almost  always  evinced 
on  the  eve  of  great  dangers,  one  thmg  alone  surprises 
us,  and  that  is,  that  they  did  not  entirely  fail  in  their  enter- 
prise. 

Philosophy  may,  with  some  justice,  oppose  its  reasonings 
to  the  marvels  of  this  war ;  but  she  will  tind  in  it  an  abun- 
dant source  of  profound  and  new  observations.  In  it  she 
will  see  man  with  his  inexplicable  contrasts ;  in  it  she  will 
meet  with  the  passions,  with  all  that  characterizes  them,  with 
all  they  possess  that  most  plainly  exhibits  the  hmnan  heart 
and  mind.  Reason,  without  doubt,  must  deplore  the  dis- 
orders, the  excesses,  and  the  delirium  of  the  Crusaders ;  but 
such  is  human  weakness,  that  we  always  interest  ourselves 
in  great  events  wherein  man  is  fully  developed. 

The  imagination  of  the  most  indifferent  must  be  struck 
w4th  the  instances  of  heroism  which  the  history  of  the  cru- 
sades aboimds  in.  If  many  of  the  scenes  of  this  great 
epoch  excite  our  indignation  or  ou.r  pity,  how  many  of  the 
events  fill  us  with  admiration  and  surprise  !  How  many 
names,  rendered  illustrious  by  this  war,  are  still  the  pride  of 
families  and  nations !  That  which  is  perhaps  most  posi- 
tive in  the  results  of  the  first  crusade,  is  the  glory  of  our 
fathers, — that  glory  which  is  also  a  real  good  for  a  country ; 
for  great  remembrances  found  the  existence  of  nations  as 
well  as  families,  and  are  the  most  noble  sources  of  patriotism. 

In  remotest  antiquity,  one  of  those  passions  which  some- 
times act  upon  a  wliole  people,  precipitated  Greece  upon 
Asia.  This  war,  famous  and  rich  in  exploits,  inflamed  the 
imagination  of  the  Grreeks,  and  was  for  a  great  length  of 
time  celebrated  in  their  temples  and  upon  their  stage.  If 
great  national  remembrances  inspire  us  with  the  same  enthu- 
siasm, if  we  entertain  as  strong  a  respect  as  the  ancients  for 
the  memory  of  our  ancestors,  the  conquest  of  the  Holy  Land 
must  be  for  us  as  glorious  and  memorable  an  epoch  as  the 
war  of  Troy  was  for  the  people  of  Greece.  These  two  wars, 
however  cUfierent  in  their  motives,  present  almost  the  same 


258  HISTOET    OF    THE    CHUSADES. 

results  to  the  enliglitened  observer ;  botli  offer  grand  lessons 
to  policy  and  illustrious  models  to  valour ;  both  founded 
new  states,  new  colonies,  and  established  relations  between 
distant  nations.  Both  had  a  marked  influence  upon  the 
ci^Tlization  of  the  ages  that  followed  them :  both,  in  short, 
developed  great  passions  and  fine  characters,  and  thus 
furnished  the  happiest  subjects  for  the  epic  muse,  who 
dehgfhts  only  in  celebrating  prodigies  and  wonders. 

AVhen  comparing  these  two  memorable  wars,  and  the 
poetical  masterpieces  that  have  celebrated  them,  we  cannot 
but  think  that  the  subiect  of  the  *'  Jerusalem  Delivered"  is 
more  wonderful  than  that  of  the  ''  Iliad."  "We  may  still 
further  say,  that  the  heroes  of  Tasso  are  more  interesting 
than  those  of  Homer,  and  their  exploits  less  fabulous.  The 
cause  which  armed  the  Greeks  was  much  less  important 
than  that  which  actuated  the  Christians.  The  latter,  in 
some  sort,  took  up  arms  for  the  assistance  of  misfortune  and 
oppressed  weakness.  They  went  to  defend  a  reUgion  able 
to  make  them  sensible  of  ills  that  were  endured  far  from 
them,  and  to  make  them  find  brothers  in  regions  uukuov>TL 
to  them.  This  character  of  sociability  is  not  to  be  foimd  in 
any  belief  of  the  ancients. 

The  Crusaders  exhibited  another  spectacle  with  which 
antiquity  was  unacquainted — the  union  of  religious  humility 
with  the  love  of  glory.  History  shows  us  constantly  these 
haughty  heroes,  the  terror  of  Asia  and  the  Mussulmans, 
bending  their  %'ictorious  brows  to  the  dust,  and  marching 
from  conquest  to  conquest,  covered  with  the  sack  of  peni- 
tence. The  priests,  who  exhorted  them  in  battle,  only  raised 
their  com-age  by  reproaching  them  with  their  sins.  When 
they  met  vrith  reverses,  a  thousand  voices  were  raised  among 
them  to  accuse  their  own  misconduct ;  and  when  they  were 
victorious,  it  was  God  alone  that  gave  them  the  victory,  and 
religion  forbade  their  claiming  glory  from  it.* 

The  historian  may  be  permitted  to  think  that  this  differ- 
ence between  the  heroes  of  the  ''  Hiad"  and  those  of  the 


*  Daimbert,  Godfrey  of  Bouillon,  and  Raymond  de  St.  Gilles,  when 
writing  to  the  pope  and  the  faithful  of  the  We>t.  say  that  the  victory  of 
Dorylreum  had  filled  the  pilgrims  with  pride,  and  that  God,  to  punish  them, 
opposed  Antioch  to  them,  which  delayed  them  nine  months. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CSUSADES.  259 

holy  war  is  not  sufficiently  marked  in  tlie  poem  of  "  Jeru- 
salem Delivered."*  Another  reproach  may  likewise  be 
addressed  to  the  bard  of  Einaldo  and  Godfrey ;  the  ideas  of 
magic  and  gallantry  which  he  has  too  freely  lavished  upon  his 
poem  are  not  in  accordance  v.ith  the  truth  of  history. 
Magic,  which  is  nothing  but  a  sort  of  degenerated  super- 
stition, and  which  only  deals  with  small  things,  was  but 
little  known  to  the  Crusaders.  Their  superstition,  however 
gross,  had  something  noble  and  grand  in  it,  which  associated 
them  sufficiently  with  the  spirit  of  the  epopee,  T^ithout  the 
poet  having  anything  to  alter ;  their  character  and  manners 
were  grave  and  austere,  and  exceedingly  well  suited  to  the 
dignity  of  a  rehgious  epic.  It  was  not  till  long  after 
the  first  crusade  that  magic  formed  any  part  of  the  super- 
stition of  the  Franks,  or  that  their  warlike  manners  aban- 
doned the  prominently  epic  character  which  distinguished 
them,  to  adopt  the  romantic  character  which  they  have  pre- 
served in  all  books  of  chivalry.  It  appears  to  us  that  we 
discover  in  Tasso  much  more  of  the  manners  of  the  times 
in  which  he  hved  than  of  those  of  the  end  of  the  eleventh 
century,  the  period  of  the  events  which  form  the  subject  of 
his  poem. 

But  it  does  not  enter  into  the  plan  or  the  object  of  this 
work  to  carry  such  observations  further.f  After  ha\ing 
spoken  of  the  heroic  deeds  and  of  all  that  was  wonderful 
in  the  first  crusade,  I  will  turn  my  attention  to  the  imme- 
diate effects  it  produced  upon  Europe  and  Asia.  We  are 
sufficiently  well  acquainted  with  the  evils  by  which  it  was 
followed ;  great  disasters  are  the  familiar  subjects  of  history, 
but  the  slow  and  almost  insensible  progress  of  the  good 
that  may  result  from  a  great  revolution,  is  much  less  easily 
perceived. 

The  first  result  of  this  crusade  was  to  carry  terror  among 

*  Tasso  himself  was  of  this  opinion,  as  may  be  seen  in  an  interesting 
letter  addressed  to  us  by  M.  Bureau  Delamalle.  The  admiration  which 
I  entertain  for  the  Poet  of  the  Crusades,  makes  me  exceedingly  anxious 
that  M.  Baour  Lormian  should  finish  the  undertaking  he  has  begun,  so 
worthy  of  his  rare  talent,  a  translation  in  verse  of  the  Jerusalem  Delivered. 

•f"  M.  Guinguene,  in  his  Histoire  Litteraire  d'lialie,  has  deigned  to 
adopt,  with  some  modification,  several  of  these  observations,  which  is  the 
most  worthy  reward  of  my  labours  and  researches. 

Vol.  I.— 13 


2G0  nrsTORY  of  the  crusades. 

tlie  Mussulman  nations,  and  to  place  it  out  of  their  po^ver 
to  undertake  for  a  length  of  time  any  warlike  enterprises 
against  the  West.  Thanks  to  the  yictories  of  the  Crusaders, 
the  Greek  empire  extended  its  limits,  and  Constantinople, 
which  was  the  road  to  the  West  for  the  tSaracens,  was  ren- 
dered safe  from  their  attacks.  In  this  distant  expedition 
Eiu-ope  lost  the  flower  of  its  population,  but  it  was  not,  as 
Asia  was.  the  theatre  of  a  bloodv  and  disastrous  war ;  of  a 
war  in  which  nothing  was  respected,  in  which  provinces  and 
cities  were,  by  turns,  ravaged  by  the  conquerors  and  the 
conquered.  Whilst  the  warriors  of  Europe  were  shedding 
their  blood  on  the  plains  of  the  East,  the  West  remained  in 
profound  peace.  Among  Christian  nations  it  was  then  con- 
sidered a  crime  to  take  up  arms  for  any  other  cause  than 
that  of  Jesus  Christ.  This  opinion  contributed  greatly  to 
check  the  frightful  brigandage  that  had  prevailed,  and  to 
increase  respect  for  the  truce  of  God,  which  was,  in  the 
middle  ao:es.  the  crerm  or  the  simal  of  the  best  institutions. 
AVhatever  were  the  reverses  of  the  crusades,  they  were  less 
deplorable  than  the  civil  wars  and  the  scourges  of  feudal 
anarchv  that  had  so  Ions;  ravas:ed  all  the  countries  of  the 
West. 

This  first  crusade  produced  other  advantages  to  Europe.* 
The  East,  by  the  holy  war,  was  in  some  sort  laid  open  to  the 
West,  which,  before,  was  but  little  acquainted  ^ith  it ;  the 
IMediterranean  became  more  frequented  by  European  vessels, 
navigation  made  some  progress,  and  commerce,  particularly 
that  of  the  Pisans  and  Grenoese,  must  have  been  increased 
and  enriched  bv  the  foundation  of  the  kinojdom  of  Jerusa- 
lem.  A  great  part,  it  is  true,  of  the  gold  and  silver  of 
Em'ope  was  carried  into  Asia  by  the  Crusaders ;  but  these 
treasures,  heaped  up  and  concealed  by  avarice  and  fear,  had 
been  long  abstracted  from  circulation ;  the  gold  which  was 
not  carried  awav  bv  the  Crusaders  circulated  more  freelv, 
and  Europe,  with  a  less  quantity  of  money,  appeared  all  at 
once  more  rich  than  it  had  ever  been. 

We  cannot  perceive,  whatever  may  have  been  asserted, 
tliat  in  the  first  crusade  Europe  received  any  great  quantity 

*  Iq  our  general  conclusions,  we  shall  often  have  to  quote  the  works 
of  M.  Heeren  and  M.  Choiseuil  d'Aillecourt  upon  the  influence  of  the 
crusades. 


HISTORY    or    THE    CRUSADES.  261 

of  kno'^\-ledge  from  the  East.  During  the  eleventh  century, 
Asia  had  been  the  theatre  of  the  most  sanguinary  revolu- 
tions. At  this  period  the  Saracens,  but  more  particularly 
the  Turks,  cultivated  neither  the  arts  nor  the  sciences.  The 
Crusaders  had  no  other  relation  T\'ith  them  but  a  war  of  ex- 
termination. On  another  side,  the  Franks  held  the  Greeks, 
among  whom,  besides,  the  arts  and  sciences  were  declining, 
in  too  much  contempt  to  borrow  any  kind  of  instruction 
from  them ;  nevertheless,  as  the  events  of  the  crusade  had 
strongly  affected  the  imagination  of  nations,  this  great  and 
imposing  spectacle  was  sufficient  to  give  an  impetus  to  the 
human  mind  in  the  "West.  Several  writers  undertook  to 
trace  the  history  of  this  memorable  period.  Raymond 
d'Agiles,  Robert  the  monk  of  St.  Eemy,  Tudebode,  Foulcher 
de  Chartres,  Abbot  Guibert,  Baudry,  the  bishop  of  Dol,  and 
Albert  d'Aix  were  contemporary  historians,  and  most  of 
them  ocidar  witnesses  of  the  conquests  and  exploits  they 
have  described.  The  histories  they  have  left  us  are  not  desti- 
tute of  merit,  and  some  of  them  are  even  better  than  that 
which  was  written  of  the  same  kind  among  either  the  Greeks 
or  the  Arabs.  These  writers  were  animated  in  their  labours 
by  the  same  spirit  of  piety  which  governed  the  heroes  of  the 
cross.  This  spirit  of  piety  caused  them  to  take  up  the  pen, 
and  persuaded  them  that  they  wrote  for  the  cause  of  God. 
They  would  have  thought  themselves  wanting  in  their  duty 
as  Christians,  if  they  had  not  employed  their  abilities  in 
transmitting  the  events  of  the  holy  war  to  posterity.  In 
whatever  manner  we  judge  of  their  motives,  we  cannot  avoid 
being  convinced  that  they  have  rendered  great  services  to 
history,  and  that  without  them  the  heroic  times  of  our 
annals  would  have  remained  without  monuments. 

The  wonderful  portion  of  the  character  of  this  first  cru- 
sade likewise  awakened  the  epic  muse.  Eaoul  de  Caen,* 
who,  in  his  history,  sometimes  sounds  the  epic  trumpet  in 
order  worthily  to  celebrate  the  "gestes"  of  Tancred,  is  not 
deficient  in  either  warmth  or  fancy.  The  conquest  of  Jeru- 
salem was  during  the  twelfth  century  the  subject  of  several 
works  in  verse.     A  Limousin  knight,  Geoffrey  de  la  Tour, 

*  The  verse  of  this  writer  is  much  better  than  his  prose,  which  is  very 
incorrect,  and  sometimes  unintelligible. 


262  HISTORY    OF    THE    CEL'SADES. 

called  tlie  prior  or  abbot  of  the  Yigeois,  described  very  tole- 
rably the  events  of  these  wars  in  a  large  volume  all  written 
in  his  maternal  tongue,  and  in  vidgar  rhyme,  in  order  that  the 
people  might  imderstand  it  tlie  better.  This  poem,  written 
in  verse,  which  was  the  fruit  of  the  labour  of  twelve  years,  is 
lost.  Many  other  similar  works  have  doubtless  shared  the 
same  fate ;  but  that  which  remains  suffices  to  prove  that 
human  intelligence  began  to  expard  at  the  commencement 
of  the  twelfth  century. 

Before  this  period,  the  science  of  legislation,  wliicli  is  the 
first  and  most  important  of  aD,  had  made  but  very  little 
progress.  Some  cities  of  Italy  and  the  pro"s*inces  near  the 
Pyrenees,  where  the  Groths  had  encouraged  the  Eoman  laws, 
alone  exhibited  glimmerings  of  ciA^ilization.  Among  the 
rules  and  ordinances  that  Gaston  de  Beam  laid  down  before 
his  departure  for  the  Holy  Land,  are  to  be  found  many  points 
and  particulars  which  deserve  to  be  preserv^ed  by  history, 
because  they  exhibit  the  feeble  beginnings  of  a  legislation 
which  time  and  fortunate  circumstances  would  perfect. 
Peace,  savs  this  legislator  of  the  eleventh  centurv,  shall  be 
observed  at  all  times  towards  clerJcs,  monks,  travellers,  and 
ladies  and  their  suite. — If  ani/  one  takes  refuge  in  the  abode 
of  a  lady,  he  shall  enjoy  security  of  person,  on 'paying  all  loss 
or  consequent  injury.  Let  the  peasant  live  in  peace  ;  let  his 
cattle  and  agricultural  instruments  be  exempt  from  seizure.* 
These  benevolent  dispositions  were  inspired  by  the  spirit  of 
chivalry,  which  had  made  some  progress  in  the  wars  against 
the  Saracens  of  Spain ;  they  were  particularly  the  works  of 
the  councils  t  which  undertook  to  put  a  stop  to  private  wars 

*  yTe  have  obtained  these  details  from  a  manuscript  history  of  Beam, 
which  has  been  kindly  communicated  to  us  by  one  of  our  most  distin- 
guished magistrates,  who  consecrates  his  leisure  to  the  cultivation  of 
letters.  This  history,  remarkable  for  a  wise  erudition  and  sound  criti- 
cism, is  likely  to  throw  a  great  light  upon  the  remote  times  of  which  we 
speak. 

f  All  the  ordinances  of  Gaston  de  Beam  are  to  be  found  in  the  decrees 
of  the  sjTiod  or  council  held  in  the  diocese  of  Elne,  in  Roussillon,  the 
16th  of  May,  1027.  These  dispositions  had  for  object  the  Truce  of  God. 
The  council  decreed  that  no  unarmed  clerk  or  monk  should  be  attacked, 
nor  any  man  who  was  going  to  church  or  coming  from  it,  or  was  walking 
with  women.  At  the  council  of  Bourges  in  1031,  and  in  several  others, 
hese  regulations  were  renewed  ;  labourers,   their  cattle  and  mills,  were 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  263 

and  the  excess  of  feudal  anarchy.  The  holy  wars  beyond 
the  seas  finished  that  which  chivalry  had  begun,  they  per- 
fected chivalry  itself.  The  council  of  Clermont  and  the 
crusade  that  followed  it  only  developed  and  consohdated  all 
which  preceding  councils,  all  that  the  wisest  lords  and 
princes,  had  done  for  the  cause  of  humanity. 

Many  of  the  princes  of  the  crusades,  such  as  the  duke  of 
Brittany  and  Robert  count  of  Flanders,  signalized  their 
return  by  establishing  wise  regulations.  A  few  salutary  in- 
stitutions began  to  displace  the  violent  abuses  of  feudalism, 
and  there  might  be  seen,  at  least  in  some  provinces,  what  a 
regime  founded  by  the  sword  could  exhibit  of  a  moderate 
kind  in  its  legislation. 

It  was  in  France  that  these  changes  were  most  obvious, 
because  France  had  taken  the  greatest  part  in  the  crusade. 
jNIany  nobles  emancipated  their  serfs  upon  their  following 
them  in  this  expedition.  Giraud  and  Griraudet  Adhemar  de 
]Monthiel,  who  followed  their  brother,  the  bishop  of  Puy,  to 
the  holy  war,  to  encourage  and  reward  some  of  their  vassals, 
by  whom  they  were  accompanied,  granted  them  several  fiefs 
by  an  act  drawn  up  in  the  same  year  as  the  taking  of  Jeru- 
salem. We  might  quote  many  similar  acts  made  during 
the  crusade  and  in  the  first  year  that  followed  it.  Liberty 
awaited  in  the  West  the  small  number  that  returned  from 
the  holy  war,  who  seemed  to  acknowledge  no  other  master 
but  Jesus  Christ. 

In  this  crusade  the  nobility  lost  some  portion  of  a  power 
which  they  had  abused,  but  they  had  more  splendour  and  were 
held  in  greater  honour.  The  king  of  France,  although  for  a 
long  time  obnoxious  to  the  censures  of  the  Church,  and 
although  he  did  not  distinguish  himself  by  any  great  per- 
sonal quaUties,  had  a  more  tranquil  and  prosperous  reign  than 
his  predecessors;  he  began  to  shake  ofi"  the  yoke  of  the  great 
vassals  of  the  crown,  of  whom  several  were  ruined  or  perished 
in  the  holy  war.  "We  have  often  repeated  that  the  crusade 
placed  great  wealth  in  the  hands  of  the  clergy ;  but  we  must 
likewise  add,  that  the  clergy  composed  the  most  enlightened 

placed  under  the  safeguard  of  i-eligion. — Seethe  Collection  of  the  Councils 
by  le  P.  Labbe.  It  is  not  useless  to  remark  that  these  regulations  were 
at  first  received  in  Aquitaine.  The  council  of  Clermont  caused  them  to  1^ 
adopted  throughout  the  greater  part  of  Europe. 


264  KISTOIIY   OF   THE   carsADL3 

part  of  the  nation,  and  that  tliis  increase  of  prosperity  was  in 
the  nature  of  things.  After  the  fii'st  crusade,  was  seen  that 
which  is  always  to  be  observed  in  all  nations  that  are  pro- 
gressing in  civilization.  Power  had  a  tendency  to  centralize 
itself  in  the  hands  of  him  who  protected  Kberty.  Glory 
became  the  reward  of  all  who  were  called  upon  to  defend 
their  country;  consideration  and  riches  took  a  direction  to- 
wards that  class  from  which  intelligence  was  to  be  expected. 

It  is  certain  that  knowledge  arose  in  Europe  among  the 
clergy,  and  that  they  alone  were  able  to  consecrate  in  some 
wav  manv  of  the  salutary'  results  of  the  crusades.  As  long 
as  the  clergy  powerfidly  assisted  the  progress  of  civihzation, 
they  preserved  their  wealth ;  as  soon  as  they  went  beyond 
civilization,  thev  lost  it.  This  is  the  course  of  thino^s  on 
earth.  As  lontr  as  institutions  are  favourable  to  societr, 
society  reveres  them;*  when  under  some  relations  they  are 
esteemed  less  useful,  they  lose  their  importance.  "Without 
anv  necessitv  for  declamation,  we  must  leave  the  inoratitude 
natural  to  nations  to  take  its  course,  as  we  must  their  in- 
constancy, and  to  time ;  which  are  but  too  powerful  in  destroy- 
ing instruments  which  societ}'  has  employed  with  some 
advantage. 

Many  cities  of  Italv  had  arrived  at  a  certain  dej^ree  of 
civilization  before  the  first  crusade  ;  but  this  civilization, 
born  in  the  midst  of  a  barbarous  age,  and  spread  amongst 
some  isolated  nations  divided  among  themselves,  had  no 
power  to  attain  maturitA'.  For  civilization  to  produce  the 
salutary  effects  it  is  capable  of,  everything  must  at  the  same 
time,  have  a  tendency  to  the  same  perfection.  EJnowledge, 
laws,  morals,  power,  all  must  proceed  together.  This  is  what 
has  happened  in  France  ;t  therefore  must  France  one  day 
become  the  model  and  centre  of  ci\Tlization  in  Europe.  The 
holy  wars  contributed  much  to  this  happy  revolution,  which 
may  be  seen  even  in  the  first  crusade. 

*  I  only  here  speak  of  the  clergy  with  regard  to  its  knowledge.  The 
opinion  I  express  is  not  only  applicable  to  France,  but  to  all  the  states  of 
Europe. 

t  What  a  comment  upon  man's  assumption  is  the  history  of  France 
since  this  was  written  I — Trans. 


BOOK    V. 


A.D.  1099—1148. 

> 

I  HAVE  related  the  disasters,  the  labours,  and  the  con- 
quests of  the  first  Crusaders ;  I  now  direct  my  attention  to 
the  kingdom  which  was  founded  by  their  victories,  the  perils 
of  which  several  times  summoned  the  nations  of  the  AVest 
to  arms.  If  the  recital  of  a  war  filled  with  adventures  and 
prodigies  has  excited  the  curiosity  and  surprise  of  my  readers, 
I  trust  they  will  not  refuse  to  follow  with  me  tlie  progress 
of  that  distant  kingdom,  which  was  the  fruit  of  so  many 
exploits  and  so  much  glory,  which  cost  so  much  blood  and 
so  many  tears.  After  having  beheld  the  countless  crowds 
of  pilgrims  setting  out  for  the  deliverance  of  the  Holy 
Land,  who  will  not  be  astonished  to  see  two  or  three  hun- 
dred brave  knights,  the  glorious  remains  of  the  Christian 
armies,  suffice  for  the  defence  of  the  pro"\T.nces  and  cities 
conquered  by  the  united  powers  of  the  West  ?  "What 
spectacle  can  create  more  profound  reflection  in  the  minds 
of  thinking  and  enlightened  men,  tlian  that  of  a  new 
people,  cast,  as  it  were  by  a  tempest,  on  a  foreign  shore,  in 
the  midst  of  a  country  from  Avhich  the  arms,  religion,  and 
customs  of  numerous  nations  are  unceasingly  employed  to 
expel  them  ? 

The  country  in  which  the  Crusaders  had  just  established 
themselves,  and  which  the  monuments  of  religion  and  his- 
tory rendered  so  dear  to  the  nations  of  the  AVest,  constituted 
the  kingdoms  of  Judah  and  Israel  of  antiquity.  When  the 
Uomans  carried  their  arms  into  this  country,  its  new  masters 
added  to  the  name  which  the  Jews  had  given  it  that  of 
Palestine,  or  the  country  of  the  Palestinians.  It  was 
bounded  on  the  south  and  east  by  the  deserts  of  Arabia  and 
Idumea,  on  the  west  by  the  Mediterranean,  and  on  the  north 
by  the  mountains  Libanus, 

At  the  period  of  tlie  crusades,  as  at  the  present  time,  a 
great  part  of  the  soil  of  Palestine,  upon  which  rise  the 


266  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

barren  mountains  of  Sion,  Hebron,  Hebal,  and  Gelboei, 
presented  the  aspect  of  a  land  upon  which  the  curses  of 
Heaven  had  fallen.  This  land,  formerly  promised  to  the 
elect  people  of  God,  had  several  times  changed  inhabitants. 
All  the  sects,  all  the  dvnasties  of  the  Mussulmans,  had  dis- 
puted the  possession  of  it  sword  in  hand,  and  revolutions 
and  wars  had  left  numerous  memorable  ruins  in  its  capital, 
and  in  the  greater  part  of  its  provinces.  The  religious  ideas 
of  the  Mussulmans  and  the  Christians  seemed  alone  to  give 
importance  to  the  conquest  of  Judea  ;  history  must,  however, 
guard  against  the  exaggeration  ^4th  which  certain  travellers 
have  spoken  of  the  sterility  of  this  unfortunate  country.* 
Amidst  the  calamities  which,  during  many  ages,  desolated 
the  pro^'inces  of  Palestine,  some  traces  of  its  ancient  splen- 
dour may  still  be  perceived.  The  shores  of  the  Lake  of 
G-alilee  and  of  the  Jordan,  some  valleys  watered  by  the 
Besor,  the  Arnou,  and  the  Jaboc,  and  the  plains  contiguous 
to  the  sea  which  war  had  not  ravaged,  still  recalled  by  their 
fertility  the  promises  of  Scripture.  Palestine  yet  boasted 
some  flourishing  cities,  and  several  of  its  ports  offered  a 
commodious  asylum  to  the  vessels  of  Asia  and  Europe. 

In  the  condition  of  Palestine  at  that  time,  if  the  territory 
had  been  entirely  subject  to  Godfrey,  the  new  king  might 
have  equalled  in  power  the  greater  part  of  the  Mussulman 
princes  of  Asia  ;  but  the  young  kingdom  of  Jerusalem  con- 
sisted but  of  the  capital  and  about  twenty  cities  or  towns  in 
its  neighbourhood.  Several  of  these  cities  were  separated 
by  places  still  occupied  by  the  infidels.  A  fortress  in  the 
hands  of  the  Christians  was  near  to  a  fortress  over  which 
floated  the  standard  of  Mahomet.  In  the  surroimding 
country  dwelt  Turks,  Arabs,  and  Egvptians,  who  all  united 
to  make  war  upon  the  subjects  of  Godfrey.  The  latter  were 
not  free  from  alarm  even  in  their  cities,  which  were  almost 
all  badly  garrisoned,  and  found  themselves  constantly  exposed 
to  the  terrors  and  evils  of  war.  The  lands  remained  uncul- 
tivated, and  all  communications  were  interrupted.  Amidst 
so  many  perils,  several  of  the  Latins  abandoned  the  pos- 
sessions which  rictoiy  had  bestowed  upon  them ;  and  that 

*  An  excellent  dissertation  on  the  Holy  Land,  by  the  Abbe  Guenee, 
in  Les  Memoires  de  V Academic  des  Itiscriptions,  may  be  consulted  with 
advantage. 


HISTORY    0¥   THE    CEXJSADES.  267 

the  conquered  country  might  not  be  left  without  inhabitants, 
the  interest  of  propert)^,  or  proprietorship,  was  called  in  to 
strentjtlien  the  waverino-  love  for  the  new  abode.  Everv 
man  who  liad  remained  a  year  and  a  day  in  a  house,  or  upon 
cultivated  land,  was  recognised  as  the  legitimate  proprietor 
of  it.  All  rights  of  possession  were  annulled  by  an  absence 
of  the  same  duration. 

The  first  care  of  Grodfrey  was  to  repel  the  hostilities  of 
the  Saracens,  and  to  extend  the  frontiers  of  the  kingdom 
intrusted  to  his  defence.  By  his  orders  Tancred  entered 
into  G-alilee,  took  possession  of  Tiberias,  and  several  other 
cities  situated  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Lake  of  Grenesa- 
reth.  As  the  reward  of  his  labours,  he  obtained  possession 
of  the  country  he  conquered,  which  in  the  end  became  a 
principahty. 

Tancred,  master  of  a  rich  province,  advanced  into  the 
territories  of  Damascus,  whilst  Godfrey,  in  a  fortunate  ex- 
cursion, imposed  tributes  upon  the  emirs  of  Caesarea,  Ptole- 
mais,  and  Ascalon,  and  brought  to  submission  the  Arabs 
dwelling  on  the  left  shores  of  the  Jordan.  He  was  returning 
victorious  to  Jerusalem,  when  the  city  of  Asur,  which  had 
surrendered  after  the  battle  of  Ascalon,  refused  to  pay 
tribute,  and  shook  off  the  yoke  of  the  Christians.  Grodfrey 
resolved  to  lay,  siege  to  this  rebel  city  ;*  he  collected  his 
troops,  marched  them  towards  Asur,  and  proceeded  to  attack 

*  We  have  been  guided  principally  in  the  history  of  Jerusalem,  by 
the  chronicle  of  Fouloher  de  Chartres,  that  of  Albert  d'Aix,  the  anony- 
mous author  of  the  Gesta  Francormn  expugnanlinm  Hiervsalem,  and 
the  history  of  William  of  Tyre.  There  is  iiotiiinjz;  in  French  upon  the 
kingdom  of  Jerusalem.  Being  ignorant  of  the  German  language,  we 
regret  our  inability  to  avail  ourselves  of  the  second  volume  of  the  History 
of  the  Crusades,  by  M.  Walken,  to  the  extent  we  could  have  wished. 
We  may  say  the  same  of  the  history  by  M.  Hacken,  and  several  other 
German  works  upon  the  estal)lishment  of  the  Christians  in  the  East. 

Among  the  Arabian  liistorians  from  whom  the  learned  D.  Bertheraud 
has  made  extracts,  we  have  consulted — 1,  IVie  Musstdmaa  Annalu  of 
Aboulfeda.  2.  The  History  of  Tabari,  or  rather  the  continuation  of  that 
historian,  who  is  called  the  Livy  of  the  Arabians.  3.  The  History  of 
Jerusalem,  by  Moudgiredclin.  4.  The  History  of  Aleppo,  by  Kemaleddin. 
5.  The  History  of  the  Attabecs,  by  Ben  Latir.  Thu^e  historians  and 
some  others  have  furnished  us  wiili  some  points  of  comparison,  and 
some  document  frequently  incomplete,  generally  useless.  The  Oriental 
historians  only  become  an  abundant  source  of  information  at  the  epoch  of 
the  reigns  of  Noureddin  and  Saladin. 

1.3* 


268  HISTORY  OF  the  crusades. 

tlie  town.  Already  had  the  rolling  towers  approached  the 
ramparts,  the  rams  had  shaken  the  walls  to  their  founda- 
tions, and  the  city  was  about  to  be  carried,  when  the  besieged 
employed  a  mode  of  defence  worthy  only  of  barbarians. 
Gerard  of  Avesnes,  who  had  been  left  with  them  as  an 
hostage  by  Godfrey,  was  fastened  to  the  top  of  a  very  high 
mast  which  was  attached  to  the  very  wall  against  which  the 
efforts  of  the  besiegers  were  principally  directed.  At  the 
prospect  of  an  inevitable  and  inglorious  death,  the  unfortunate 
Christian  knight  uttered  loud  and  painful  cries,  and  conjured 
his  friend  Godfrey  to  save  his  life  by  a  voluntary  retreat. 
This  cruel  spectacle  pierced  the  heart  of  Godfrey,  but  did 
not  shake  either  his  firmness  or  his-  courage.  As  he  was 
sufficiently  near  to  Gerard  of  Avesnes  to  make  himself  heard 
by  him,  he  exhorted  him  to  merit  the  cro^vn  of  martyrdom 
bV  his  resignation.  "  It  is  not  in  my  power  to  save  you," 
said  he  ;  "  if  mv  brother  Eustace  were  in  your  place,  I  could 
not  dehver  him  from  death.  Die,  then,  illustrious  and  brave 
knight,  with  the  courage  of  a  Christian  hero ;  die  for  the 
safety  of  your  brethren,  and  for  the  glory  of  Jesus  Christ." 
These  words  of  Godfrey  gave  Gerard  of  Avesnes  the 
courage  to  die.  He  begged  his  old  companions  to  offer  at  the 
holv  sepulchre  his  horse  and  his  arms,  that  prayers  might  be 
put  up  for  the  health  of  his  soul.*  A  short  time  after  he 
died  under  a  shower  of  darts  and  arrows  launched  by  the 
hands  of  the  Christians. 

The  soldiers  of  Godfrey,  on  witnessing  the  death  of 
Gerard,  burned  with  rage  to  revenge  him,  and  redoubled 
their  efforts  to  render  themselves  masters  of  the  city.  On 
their  side,  the  besieged  reproached  the  Christians  with  their 
barbarity,  and  defended  themselves  with  vigour.  The  Greek 
fire  consumed  the  towers  and  the  machines  of  the  besiegers ; 
Godfrey  had  lost  a  great  number  of  his  soldiers,  and  de- 
spah'ed  of  reducing  the  city,  which  received  succours  by  sea. 
As  winter  was  approaching,  he  resolved  at  last  to  raise  the 
siege  and  return  to  Jerusalem,  deeply  affected  at  having 
caused  the  death  of  Gerard  of  Avesnes  without  any  advantage 
to  the  cause  of  the  Christians. 

During  the  siege  of  Asur  several  emirs  from  the  moun- 

*  This  account  is  found  entire  in  Albert  d^Aix,  book  vii.  chaps.  8,  9, 
&c. 


HISTORY    OF    TJIE    CllUSAULS.  269 

tains  of  Samaria  came  to  visit  Grodfrey.  They  were  struck 
with  the  greatest  surprise  when  they  tbund  the  king  of  the 
Christians  without  a  guard,  Avithout  splendour,  sleeping  on 
a  straw  pallet  like  the  meanest  of  his  soldiers.  They  were 
not  less  astonished  when,  at  their  request,  he  exhibited 
before  them  his  extraordinary  strength  by  cutting  off  the 
head  of  a  camel  at  a  single  blow  with  his  sword.  The  emirs, 
after  having  offered  presents  to  Godfrey,  returned  to  their 
own  country,  and  related  the  wonders  they  had  seen.  Their 
recitals,  which  history  has  not  disdained,  contributed  greatly 
to  increase  the  fame  of  the  king  of  Jerusalem. 

When  Godfrey  reached  his  capital,  he  learnt  the  approach 
of  a  great  number  of  pilgrims,  the  greater  part  of  whom 
were  Pisans  and  Genoese,  led  by  the  bishop  of  Ariana,  and 
Daimbert,  archbishop  of  Pisa.  To  the  Christians  arrived 
from  the  AV^est  were  added  Bohemond,  prince  of  Antioch, 
Baldwin,  count  of  Edessa,  and  liaymond,  count  of  Thoulouse. 
These  latter  had  come  to  visit  the  holy  places,  and  to 
celebrate  the  epoch  of  the  birth  of  Christ  at  Jerusalem. 

Godfrey  went  out  to  meet  the  pilgrims  as  far  as  Beth- 
lehem, with  his  knights  and  the  clergy.  "  After  they  were 
come  into  the  holy  city,"  says  an  old  chronicle,  "the  king 
received  them  and  feasted  them  magnificently ;  and  detained 
them  in  Judea  during  the  winter,  being  much  gratified  with 
the  presence  of  his  brother  Baldwin."  Daimbert,  archbishop 
of  Pisa,  had  come  into  Palestine  as  legate  from  the  Holy  See. 
By  means  of  presents  and  promises  he  got  himself  to  be 
named  patriarch  of  Jerusalem,  in  the  place  of  Arnoul  de 
Kohes.  This  prelate,  brought  up  in  the  school  of  Gre- 
gory VII.,  maintained  with  warmth  the  pretensions  of  the 
Holy  See,  and  it  was  not  long  before  his  ambition  introduced 
trouble  among  the  Christians.  In  the  places  even  where 
Christ  had  said  that  his  kingdom  was  not  of  this  world,  he 
who  called  himself  his  vicar  desired  to  reign  with  Godfrey, 
an  d  demanded  the  sovereignty  of  a  part  of  Jaffa,  and  of  a 
quarter  of  Jerusalem  in  which  the  church  of  the  E,esiu'rec- 
tion  was  built.  After  some  debates,  the  pious  Godfrey 
yielded  to  the  imperious  demands  of  Daimbert ;  and  such 
was  then  the  ascendancy  of  the  Church  and  the  clergy,  that 
the  new  king  was  obliged  to  consent  to  a  treaty  by  which 
the  kingdom   shoidd   belong  to  the  patriarch,  if  Godfrey 


'«■ 


270  niSTOET    OF    TUE    CRUSADES. 

should  die  without  children.  G-odfrey  thus  ackno\fledged 
himself  the  vassal  of  the  sovereign  pontiff,  and  received 
from  the  pope  and  his  legate  permission  to  reign  over  a 
country  conquered  by  his  arms,  Bohemond  and  Bald\vin 
consented  at  the  same  time  to  receive  from  the  pope  the 
investiture  of  their  principalities.  The  prince  of  Antioch 
had  refused  to  render  homage  to  the  king  of  Jerusalem,  but 
he  did  not  hesitate  to  acknowledge  himself  the  vassal  of  a 
power  which  bestowed  empires,  and  was  able  to  send  fresh 
armies  into  the  East. 

In  the  mean  time  the  wise  Godfrey,  after  having  freed  his 
territory  from  the  incursions  of  the  Mussulmans,  and  carried 
the  terror  of  his  arms  beyond  the  Jordan,  reflected  that 
victory  was  not  all  that  was  required  to  found  a  state.  His 
capital  had  been  depopulated  by  the  sword  of  the  Crusaders  ; 
several  other  cities,  like  Jaffa,  had  lost  the  greater  part  of 
their  inhabitants  ;  and  this  new  king  reckoned  among  his 
subjects  Armenians,  G-reeks,  Jews,  Arabs,  renegades  from 
all  religions,  and  adventurers  from  all  countries.  The  state 
confided  to  his  care  was  like  a  place  of  passage,  and  had  no 
other  supporters  or  defenders  but  travellers  and  strangers. 
It  was  the  rendezvous  and  the  asylum  of  notorious  sinners, 
who  came  thither  to  mitigate  the  anger  of  God,  and  of 
criminals,  who  thus  eluded  the  justice  of  men.  Both  of 
these  were  equally  dangerous  when  circumstances  awakened 
their  passions,  or  when  fear  and  repentance  gave  way  before 
new  temptations.  Godfrey,  according  to  the  spirit  of  feudal 
customs  and  the  laws  of  war,  had  divided  the  conquered 
lands  among  the  companions  of  his  victories.  The  new  lords 
of  Jaffa,  Tiberias,  Bamla,  and  Xaplouse,  scarcely  acknow- 
ledged the  authority  of  a  king.  The  clergy,  encouraged  by 
the  patriarch,  assumed  the  tone  of  masters,  and  the  bishops 
exercised  a  temporal  power  equal  to  that  of  the  barons. 
Some  attributed  the  conquest  of  the  kingdom  to  their  valour, 
others  to  their  prayers ;  every  one  claimed  the  reward  of 
either  his  piety  or  his  labours  ;  and  whilst  the  greater  part 
aimed  at  domination,  all  insisted  upon  independence. 

Godfrey  undertook  to  rule  so  many  conflicting  preten- 
sions, and  to  bring  a  tumultuous  government  into  some 
regular  form.  In  order  that  the  execution  of  his  project 
might  have  the  greater  solemnity,  he  chose  the  circumstance 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CIU'SADES.  271 

vrhicli  had  conducted  the  Latin  princes  to  Jerusalem.  After 
ha-sdng  accompanied  them  as  far  as  Jericho,  to  celebrate  with 
them  the  festival  of  the  Epiphany,  he  returned  to  his  capital, 
where  he  assembled  the  enlightened  and  pious  men  of  the 
city,  of  whom  he  formed  the  states,  or  the  assizes,  of  his 
kingdom.  In  this  solemn  assembly  the  first  care  was  to 
regulate  and  determine  the  duties  of  the  barons,  the  lords, 
and  the  common  subjects,  towards  the  king,  and  the  duties 
of  the  king  towards  the  lords  and  subjects.  The  king  was 
to  undertake  to  maintain  the  laws,  to  defend  the  Church,  to 
protect  widows  and  orphans,  to  watch  over  the  safety  of  both 
people  and  lords,  and  to  lead  in  war.  The  lord,  who  was  the 
lieutenant  of  the  prince,  as  regarded  his  vassals,  was  to 
guarantee  them  from  insult,  and  to  protect  their  property, 
their  honour,  and  their  rights.  The  first  duty  of  the  counts 
and  barons  towards  the  king  was  to  serve  him  in  council  and 
fight.  The  first  obligation  of  a  subject  or  a  vassal  towards 
his  prince  or  his  lord,  was  to  defend  him  or  avenge  him  in 
every  case  of  outrage,  and  to  protect  the  honour  of  his  wife, 
his  daughter,  or  his  sister ;  to  follow  him  in  all  perils,  and  to 
surrender  himself  as  hostage  for  him,  if  he  fell  into  the 
hands  of  his  enemies.* 

The  king  and  his  subjects,  the  great  and  the  small  vassals, 
mutually  engaged  their  faith  to  each  other.  In  the  feudal 
hierarchy,  every  class  had  its  privileges  maintained  by 
honour.  Honour,  that  grand  principle  among  knights,  com- 
manded all  to  repulse  an  injury  inflicted  upon  a  single  one, 
and  thus  became,  restrained  within  just  limits,  the  secui'ity 
of  public  liberty. 

AVar  was  the  great  affair  in  a  kingdom  founded  by  knights 
and  barons  ;  every  one  capable  of  bearing  arms  was  reckoned 
as  something  in  the  state,  and  protected  by  the  new  legisla- 
tion ;  all  the  rest,  with  the  exception  of  the  clergy,  whose 
existence  and  privileges  were  held  by  divine  right,  were 

*  The  Assizes  of  Jerusalem,  transported  into  the  kingdom  of  Cypru.^, 
were  collected  in  the  thirteenth  century,  by  John  d'Ibelin,  count  of  Jaffa 
and  Ascalon.  They  were  printed  by  Baumancir,  and  commented  upon 
by  Thomas  de  la  Thauraasiere.  It  is  to  be  lamented  that  the  French 
publicists,  and  Montesquieu  himself,  have  studied  so  superticially  this 
monument  of  modern  legislation,  which  is  able  to  throw  great  light  upon 
the  history,  laws,  and  manners  of  the  middle  ages. 


272  IIISTOET    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

reckoned  as  nothing,  and  scarcely  merited  any  attention  from 
the  legislators.  The  Assizes  of  Jerusalem  did,  indeed,  deign 
to  take  notice  of  villains,  slaves,  peasants  or  cultivators,  or 
captives  taken  in  war  ;  but  they  Mere  only  considered  in  the 
light  of  property,  of  which  they  wished  to  assure  the  enjoy- 
ment to  its  legitimate  possessors.  Those  who  had  lost  them 
could  reclaim  them  as  thev  coidd  a  falcon  or  a  hound :  the 
value  of  a  falcon  and  a  slave  was  the  same  ;  a  war-horse  was 
estimated  at  more  than  double  the  value  of  a  peasant  or  a 
captive.  The  laws  did  not  condescend  to  notice  these  un- 
happy classes,  and  left  it  to  religion  alone  to  protect  them. 

To  watch  over  the  execution  of  the  constitutional  laws  of 
the  state,  and  to  decide  in  all  disputes,  two  courts  were  in- 
stituted ;  the  one  presided  over  by  the  king,  and  composed 
of  the  nobles,  was  to  pronounce  judgment  upon  differences 
among  the  great  vassals ;  the  other,  presided  over  by  the 
\-iscount  of  Jerusalem,  and  formed  of  the  principal  inha- 
bitants of  each  city,  was  to  regulate  the  interests  and  the 
rights  of  the  citizens  and  the  common  people.  A  third- 
court  was  instituted,  which  was  reserved  for  Oriental  Chris- 
tians ;  the  judges  of  it  were  bom  in  Syria,  spoke  its  lan- 
guage, and  decided  according  to  the  laws  and  usages  of  the 
coimtry.  Thus  all  the  citizens  of  the  kingdom  were  judged 
bv  their  peers,  and  enjoyed  the  benefits  of  an  institution 
which  has  not  been  despised  in  ages  much  more  enlightened. 

The  Franks,  with  their  warlike  character,  were  certain  to 
evince  disdain  for  the  slow,  and  often  uncertain,  forms  of 
justice  ;  they  adopted,  in  their  legislation  made  for  the  East, 
the  ordeal  bv  iron  or  fiire,  which  had  taken  its  birth  among 
the  nations  of  the  North.  Judicial  combat  was  also  ad- 
mitted in  criminal  causes,  and  sometimes  even  in  ci^-il  ones. 
Among  a  warlike  people  everything  must  present  the  image 
of  war ;  every  action  commenced  against  a  baron  or  a  knight 
was,  in  his  eyes,  an  injmw — an  afli'ont — that  he  ought  to 
repulse  sword  in  hand ;  Christian  knights  were  likewise 
persuaded  that  God  would  not  allow  innocence  to  succumb 
in  an  unequal  combat,  and  ^'ictory  appeared  to  them  at  once 
the  triumph  of  human  laws  and  divine  justice. 

Such  dispositions  still  bespeak  the  barbarity  of  the  most  re- 
mote a£es:  but  a  sfreat  number  of  other  laws  attest  the  wisdom 
of  the  legislators  of  the  Holv  Land :  their  code  contamed 


HISTORY    or    TUE    CRUSADES.  273 

every  institution  that  was  reasonable  in  the  feudal  system. 
Palestine  was  then  blessed  by  the  revival  of  wise  laws  created 
for  Europe,  but  wliich  Europe  had  forgotten  amidst  the 
anarchy  of  civil  wars  ;  many  ameliorations  made  in  feudal 
legislation  in  some  of  the  states  of  the  West,  particularly 
m  the  cities  of  Italv,  were  consecrated  in  the  new  laws  of 
Jerusalem. 

It  miist  be  believed  that  in  this  circumstance  religion 
sometimes  mingled  her  usefid  inspirations  with  those  of 
human  sagacity ;  justice  and  humanity  assumed  a  more 
sacred  character  in  the  presence  of  the  holy  tomb.  As  all 
the  subjects  of  Grodfrey  were  called  upon  to  defend  the  cause 
of  God,  the  quality  of  a  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ  might  make 
the  dignity  of  man  respected.  If  it  be  true  that  the  esta- 
blishment of  the  commons,  or  a  second  court,  was  the  work 
of  the  Crusaders,  we  cannot,  with  truth,  assert  that  these 
wars  contributed  nothing  towards  the  progress  of  civilization. 
The  laws  which  they  made,  and  in  which  may  be  plainly  seen 
the  first  glimpses  of  regulated  liberty,  were  a  new  spectacle 
for  Asia ;  they  must  likewise  have  been  a  subject  of  surprise 
and  a  means  of  instruction  for  Europe  itself,  where  pilgrims 
related,  on  their  return,  the  usages  and  customs  established 
by  the  Pranks  in  the  Holy  Land.  This  code  of  legislation, 
the  best,  or  rather  the  least  imperfect  that  had  existed  pre- 
vious to  that  time,  and  which  increased  or  was  modified 
under  other  reigns,  was  deposited  with  great  pomp  in  the 
church  of  the  Resurrection,  and  took  the  name  of  the  Assizes 
of  Jerusalem,  or  Letters  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre. 

After  this  ceremony,  which  was  performed  in  the  presence 
of  all  the  pilgrims,  the  Latin  princes  then  at  Jerusalem 
returned  to  their  own  states  ;  Baldwin  to  Edessa,  Bohemond 
to  his  principality  of  Antioch,  and  Raymond  to  Laodicea,  of 
which  he  had  rendered  himself  master,  and  which  he  governed 
in  the  name  of  the  emperor  of  Constantinople.  Scarcely 
had  Tancred  returned  to  his  principality  when  he  was 
attacked  by  all  tlie  forces  of  the  sultan  of  Damascus.  God- 
frey,  accompanied  by  his  faithful  knights  and  a  great  number 
of  pilgrims  eager  to  fight  under  his  command,  repaired  im- 
mediately into  Galilee,  defeated  the  Saracens,  and  pursued 
them  to  the  mountains  of  Libanus. 

As  he  was  returning  from  this  expedition,  the  emir  of 


274  nisTOET  OF  the  crusades. 

C^esarea  came  out  to  meet  liim,  and  presented  to  liim  an 
offering  of  some  of  the  fruits  of  Palestine.  Godfrey  only 
accepted  a  single  cedar-apple,  and  almost  dii-ectly  fell  ill. 
This  maladv,  which  they  did  not  hesitate  to  attribute  to 
poison,  created  the  most  serious  alarm  among  his  followers. 
Godfrev  with  great  difficulty  reached  Jaffa,  whence  he  was 
conveyed  to  liis  capital,  where  he  died,  committing  to  the 
companions  of  his  ^ictories  the  charge  of  the  glory  of  reli- 
gion and  of  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem.  His  mortal  remains 
were  deposited  within  the  enclosure  of  Calvary,  near  to  the 
tomb  of  Christ,  which  he  had  delivered  by  his  valour.  His 
death  was  mourned  by  the  Christians,  of  whom  he  was  the 
father  and  the  support,  and  by  the  Mussulmans,  who  had 
often  experienced  his  justice  and  his  clemency.  History 
mav  sav  of  him  what  the  holy  Scripture  says  of  Judas 
Maccabeus :  "  It  was"  he  who  increased  the  glory  of  his 
people,  when,  like  a  giant,  he  put  on  his  arms  in  the  fight, 
and  his  sword  was  the  protection  of  the  whole  camp." 
Godfrev  of  Bouillon  surpassed  all  the  captains  of  his  age  in 
his  skill  in  war ;  and  if  he  had  lived  some  time  longer,  would 
have  merited  a  name  among  great  kings.  In  the  kingdom 
he  founded  he  was  constantly  held  up  as  a  model  for  princes 
as  well  as  warriors.  His  name  still  recalls  the  vii-tues  of 
heroic  times,  and  will  live  honoiu-ed  amongst  men  as  long  as 
the  remembrance  of  the  crusades. 

After  the  death  of  Godfrey  great  disputes  arose  upon  the 
choice  of  his  successor.  The  patriarch  Daimbert  endea- 
voured to  avail  himself  of  the  rights  conveyed  by  the  pro- 
mises of  Godfrey,  and  claimed  the  throne  of  Jerusalem  ;  but 
the  barons  would  submit  to  no  chief  but  one  of  their  com- 
panions in  arms.  Garnier,  count  de  Gray,  took  possession 
of  the  Tower  of  David,  and  of  the  other  fortresses  of  Jeru- 
salem, in  the  name  of  Baldwin,  count  of  Edessa.  The 
patnarch  invoked  the  authority  of  the  Church  to  the  assist- 
ance of  his  cause ;  and  as  Coimt  Garnier  died  suddenly,  the 
clers^v  of  Jerusalem  attributed  his  death  to  divine  justice, 
which  the  impious  projects  of  the  barons  and  Imights  had 
offended.  Daimbert  wrote  to  Bohemond,  prince  of  Antioch, 
and  conjured  him  to  come  and  defend  what  he  called  the 
ricrhts  of  the  Church  and  the  cause  of  God.  Jerusalem  was 
filled  with   agitation   and   trouble;    but  whilst   they  were 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  275 

tumultuously  deliberating,  deputies  from  Antioch  came  to 
announce  that  their  prince  had  been  surprised  in  an  expe- 
dition against  the  Turks,  and  was  held  prisoner  by  the 
infidels.  This  ne^YS  spread  consternation  and  grief  among 
the  Christians,  and  made  them  more  sensible  of  the  necessity 
for  calling  Baldwin  to  the  throne,  Avith  whose  valour  they 
were  so  well  acquainted. 

Baldwin,*  to  whom  deputies  had  been  sent,  shed  tears  on 
learning:  the  death  of  Godfrey,  but  soon  consoled  himself 
with  the  hope  of  obtaining  a  crown.  The  county  of  Edessa 
had  become  richer  and  more  extensive  than  the  mean  king- 
dom of  Jerusalem,  several  cities  of  which  still  belonged  to 
the  Saracens ;  but  such  was  the  active  and  enterprising 
spirit  of  Baldwin,  that  the  prospect  of  a  kingdom  to  be 
conquered  appeared  to  him  preferable  to  a  country  of  which 
he  was  in  peacefid  possession.  After  having  given  up  the 
county  of  Edessa  to  his  cousin  Baldwin  du  Bourg,  he  began 
his  march  with  four  hundred  horsemen  and  a  thousand  foot. 
The  emirs  of  Emessa  and  Damascus,  informed  of  his  intended 
march,  laid  wait  for  him  in  the  narrow  and  difficult  roads 
near  the  coast  of  the  Sea  of  Phoenicia.  Baldwin  feigned  to 
fly  before  the  army  of  the  infidels,  and  having  drawn  them 
into  an  open  country,  routed  them,  making  a  great  many 
prisoners,  whom  he  carried  to  Jerusalem. f  The  knights, 
the  barons,  and  a  portion  of  the  clergy  came  out  to  meet 
the  conqueror.  Baldwin  made  his  triumphant  entrance  into 
the  city  in  the  midst  of  the  acclamations  of  the  whole  Chris- 
tian population,  who  flocked  eagerly  to  see  the  brother  of 
Godfrey.  But  whilst  the  inhabitants  thus  manifested  their 
joy,  the  patriarch,  with  some  of  his  partisans,  protested 
against  the  election  of  the  new  king,  and,  feigning  to  believe 
that  he  was  in  safety  nowhere  but  close  to  the  tomb  of 
Christ,  retired  in  silence  to  Mount  Sion,  as  if  to  seek  an 
asylum  there.  Baldwin  did  not  think  it  worth  while  to 
disturb  the  retreat  of  the  patriarch,  and,  satisfied  with  having 

*  Dolens  aliquantulum  de  fratris  morte  et  plus  gaudens  de  hsereditate. 
— Fulch.  Cam.  lib.  x.  cap.  22. 

t  The  Christians  were  in  so  much  danger  in  this  expedition,  that 
Fouh'her  de  Chartres  exclaims  in  his  history,  "  I  would  rather  have  been 
at  Chartres  or  Orleans," — "Ego  quidem  vel  Carnoti  vel  Aureliania 
mallem  esse  quam  ibi."— Lib.  x.  cap.  22. 


276  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CKUSJlDES. 

obtained  the  suffrages  of  tlie  barons  and  knights,  ^vished  to 
assiure  to  himself  new  titles  to  the  CTO^vn,  by  gaining  more 
\-ictorie3  over  the  Saracens.  He  marched  from  Jerusalem, 
followed  by  his  bravest  knights,  and  presented  himself  before 
Asealon. 

The  season  beins;  too  far  advanced  to  lav  resrular  siesre  to 
the  citv.  he  ravas:ed  the  enemv's  country*,  penetrated  into 
the  mountains  of  Engaddi,  surprised  Segor,  and  seized  a 
troop  of  brigands  in  a  cavern  which  they  had  chosen  as  a 
place  of  retreat.  In  this  campaign,  which  was  little  more 
than  a  pilgrimage,  the  soldiers  of  Baldwin  passed  along  the 
shores  of  the  Dead  Sea.  the  sight  of  which  recalled  the 
memory  of  the  punishment  of  Sodom;  they  ^-isited  the 
valley  famous  as  the  burial-place  of  the  ancestors  of  Israel, 
and  that  in  which  it  is  believed  Moses  caused  a  stream 
of  li^ing  water  to  spring  from  the  side  of  a  barren  rock. 
The  Christian  soldiers  were  never  wearv  of  admirino:  these 
places,  rendered  sacred  by  scriptural  remembrances.  The 
historian  Poidcher  de  Chartres,  who  accompanied  Baldwin, 
displays  in  his  recital  the  greatest  enthusiasm,  and  tells  us 
with  livelv  iov.  that  he  watered  his  horses  at  the  miraculous 
fountain  of  the  legislator  ot  the  Hebrews.* 

The  little  anny  of  the  Christians  came  back  to  Jerusalem 
loaded  with  boot^'.  After  Baldwin's  return,  the  patriarch 
did  not  venture  to  say  anything  more  about  his  pretensions, 
and  consented  to  crown  the  successor  of  Godfrey  with  his 
own  hands.  The  ceremony  was  performed  with  great  solem- 
nity at  Bethlehem,  in  the  presence  of  the  barons,  the 
bishops,  and  the  principal  people  of  the  kingdom. 

Tancred  was  not  present  at  the  coronation  of  the  new 
king,  for  the  two  companions  of  Godfrey  had  not  forgotten 
their  ancient  quarrel.  Tancred  had  protested  against  the 
elecrion  of  Baldwin,  and  refused  to  pay  him  homage.  Bald- 
win, on  his  part,  disputed  Tancred' s  right  to  the  principahty 
of  Galilee,  and  summoned  him  to  appear  before  him  as 
a  contumacious  vassal.     The  reply  of  Tancred  was  laconic, 

*  "  Ubi  ego  ipse  Fulcherius  adaquavi  meos." — In  Bongarg,  p.  405. 
The  same  historian  speaks  in  the  same  chapter  of  the  Dead  Sea,  and  of  the 
phenomena  he  had  remarked.  Foulcher  de  Chartres  seldom  neglects  an 
opportunity  of  speakincf  of  himself;  these  words,  "  Ego  Fulcherius," 
very  frequently  appear  in  his  narration. 


HISTORY    or   THE    CllUSAHES.  277 

and  full  of  proud  contempt  for  liis  rival.  "  I  do  not  know," 
said  he,  addressing  the  messengers  of  Baldwin,  "  that  your 
master  is  king  of  Jerusalem."  He  did  not  deign  to  make 
any  reply  to  a  second  summons.  At  length  their  mutual 
friends  employed  prayers  and  entreaties,  to  which  Tancred 
reluctantly  gave  way.  The  two  princes  agreed  to  have  an  inter- 
view between  Jerusalem  and  Jaffa,  in  which  interview  Tancred 
consented  to  forget  past  injuries,  but  would  not  renounce  a 
principality  which  he  held  from  Grodfrey.  The  debates 
between  the  prince  of  Galilee  and  the  king  of  Jerusalem 
were  not  terminated  when  messengers  arrived  from  xA.ntioch, 
conjuring  Tancred  to  repair  immediately  to  tlieir  city,  to 
govern  a  state  which  had  been  without  a  head  since  the  cap- 
tivity of  Bohemond.  Tancred  yielded  to  their  entreaties, 
and  immediately  set  out  for  Antioch,  abandoning  to  Hugli  de 
Saint  Omer  the  city  of  Tiberias  and  the  principality  of  Galilee. 

These  differences  with  Tancred  did  not  impede  Baldwin's 
wars  against  the  infidels,  or  his  endeavours  to  extend  his 
young  kingdom.  AVhilst  Persia,  Egypt,  Syria,  and  Mesopo- 
tamia coidd  bring  numberless  armies  against  the  Christians, 
Baldwin  could  only  muster  under  his  standard  a  small  body 
of  warriors,  to  whom  were  added  a  few  pilgrims  from  the 
"West,  the  greater  part  without  horses  and  very  badly  armed. 
His  bravery  and  activity  surmounted  all  obstacles,  and  car- 
ried him  through  all  dangers.  From  the  beginning  of  his 
reign,  we  see  with  surprise  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem,  dis- 
turbed in  its  infancy  by  discord,  and  only  defended  by  a  few 
knights,  rise  in  the  midst  of  formidable  enemies,  and  carry 
terror  amongst  neighbours  much  more  powerful  than  itself. 

The  king  of  Jerusalem  took  advantage  of  the  arrival  of  a 
Genoese  fleet,  to  punish  the  rebellion  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Arsur,  and  to  lay  siege  to  their  city  both  by  sea  and  land. 
On  the  third  day  the  city  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Christians. 
A  short  time  after,  Baldwin  besieged  Caesarea,  a  city  built 
by  Herod  in  honour  of  Ca?sar.  The  siege  was  carried  on 
with  vigour ;  on  the  fifteenth  day  everything  was  ready  for  a 
general  assault,  and  as  soon  as*  the  trumpet  had  given  the 
first  signal,  all  the  soldiers  confessed  and  received  absolution 
for  their  sins.  ^  The  patriarch,  clothed  in  white  vestments, 
with  a  crucifix  in  his  hand,  led  them  to  the  foot  of  the  ram- 
parts ; — the  city  was  soon  taken,  and  the  inhabitants  put  to 


278  HISIOKT    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

the  sword.  The  Christians,  particularly  the  Genoese,  car- 
ried away  by  a  thirst  for  pillage,  and  still  more  by  ven- 
geance and  the  fury  of  battle,  stained  their  victory  by  hor- 
rible cruelties.*  The  Mussulmans  who  escaped  from  the 
massacre  of  Csesarea,  carried  terror  into  the  cities  of  Ptole- 
mais  and  Ascalon,  and  all  the  countries  still  under  the  domi- 
nation of  the  Egyptians. 

The  cahph  of  Eg^pt,  to  revenge  the  death  of  his  warriors, 
assembled  an  army,  which  advanced  as  far  as  the  country 
round  Eamla.  Baldwin  got  together,  in  haste,  a  troop  of 
three  hundred  knights  and  a  thousand  foot-soldiers,  and 
marched  to  meet  him.  "When  he  perceived  the  standards  of 
the  Eg\'ptian  army,  ten  times  more  numerous  than  that  of 
the  Christians,  he  represented  to  his  soldiers  that  they  were 
going  to  fight  for  the  glory  of  Christianity ;  "  if  they  fell, 
heaven  would  be  open  to  them  ;  if  they  triumphed,  the  fame 
of  their  -v-ictory  would  be  spread  throughout  the  Clu-istian 
world.  There  could  be  no  safety  in  flight ;  their  home  was 
beyond  the  seas ;  in  the  East  there  was  no  asyluni  for  the 
conquered."  After  having  thus  animated  his  soldiers,  Bald- 
win divided  his  troops  into  six  battalions.  The  t^'o  first,  on 
chargino;  the  enemy,  were  overwhelmed  by  numbers  ;  two 
others,  which  followed,  shared  the  same  fate.  Two  bishops, 
who  were  with  Bald^^'in,  then  advised  him  to  implore  the 
mercv  of  Heaven :  and.  at  their  desire,  the  kins^  of  Jerusalem 
ahghted  Irom  his  horse,  fell  on  his  knees,  confessed,  and  re- 
ceived absolution.  Springing  to  his  feet,  he  resumed  his 
arms,  and  rushed  upon  the  enemy  at  the  head  of  his  two 
remaining  battalions.  The  Christian  warriors  fought  hke 
lions,  animated  by  their  war-cry  "  Victo?y  or  Death  !^^ 
Baldwin  had  attached  a  white  kerchief  to  the  point  of  his 
lance,  and  thus  pointed  out  the  road  to  carnage.     The  \ic- 

*  "William  of  Tyre,  in  his  account  of  the  taking  of  Caesarea,  speaks  of  a 
precious  vase  which  fell  to  the  share  of  the  Genries-e.  "  At  this  time," 
says  he,  "  was  found  a  vase  in  the  shape  of  a  di^h,  of  a  bright  green 
colour,  which  the  Genoese,  beUeving  it  to  be  an  emerald,  were  desirous  of 
haviiie,  at  the  valuation  of  a  large  sum  of  money,  to  make  an  offering  of 
to  their  church  as  an  excellent  ornament,  and  which  they  are  accu:«tomed 
to  exhibit  to  the  great  lords  who  pass  through  their  city."  Tnis  vase 
found  at  Csesarea.  and  preserved  at  Genoa  till  the  end  of  the  last  century, 
is  now  in  the  Cabinet  of  Antiques  in  the  Innperial  Library  at  Paris. 
[Qy.  whether  restored  to  the  Genoese  in  1815  ? — Trans.] 


HISTOKr   or    THE    CRUSADES.  279 

tory  was  for  a  length  of  time  uncertain  ;  but  at  last,  says  an 
historian,  the  will  of  God  was  declared  in  favoiu'  of  the  sol- 
diers of  Christ.  The  Egyptian  army  liad  lost  its  leader,  and 
was  entirely  routed ;  five  thousand  infidels  remaining  on  the 
field  of  battle. 

The  enemy  fled  in  such  complete  disorder  that  they  aban- 
doned their  tents  and  their  baggage.  As  Baldwin  was  pur- 
suing them,  his  ear  was  struck  by  tlie  plaintive  cry  of  a 
woman.  He  checked  his  war-horse,  and  perceived  a  female 
Mussulman  in  the  pains  of  childbirth.  He  threw  his  mantle 
to  her  to  cover  her,  and  ordered  her  to  be  placed  on  carpets 
laid  upon  the  ground.  By  his  commands,  fruits  and  a  skin 
of  water  were  brought  to  this  bed  of  pain,  and  a  female 
camel  furnished  milk  for  the  nourishment  of  the  newlv-born 
child.  The  mother  was  confided  to  the  care  of  a  slave,  with 
orders  to  conduct  her  to  her  husband.  The  latter,  who  held 
a  distinguished  rank  among  the  Mussulmans,  shed  tears  of 
joy  on  beholding  a  wife  whose  death  he  was  lamenting,  and 
vowed  never  to  forget  the  generous  action  of  Baldwin. 

Conqueror  of  the  Saracens,  the  king  of  Jerusalem  had 
sent  back  his  troops,  and  was  reposmg  at  Jaffa,  after  the 
fatigues  of  the  war,  when  he  learnt  that  the  Mussulman 
army  had  rallied,  and  was  in  fidl  march  to  attack  the  Chris- 
tians. Baldwin,  whom  victory  had  rendered  rash,  without 
assembling  all  his  troops,  went  immediately  to  meet  the 
enemy,  at  the  head  of  two  hundred  knights,  and  a  few  pil- 
grims lately  arrived  from  the  AYest.  IS'ot  at  all  dismayed 
by  the  number  of  the  Saracens,  he  gave  battle ;  but,  at  the 
first  charge,  the  Christians  were  surrounded,  and  only  sought 
a  glorious  death,  fighting  by  the  side  of  their  leader.  The 
king  of  Jerusalem,  obliged  to  fly,  concealed  himself  among 
the  long  dried  grass  and  bushes  which  covered  the  plain. 
As  the  Saracens  set  fire  to  these,  Baldwin  with  difficulty 
escaped  being  biu-nt  ahve ;  and,  after  many  perils,  was  glad 
to  take  refuge  in  Eamla. 

Night  checked  the  pursuit  of  his  enemies,  but  on  the  fol- 
lowing day,  the  place  which  served  him  as  an  asylum  was 
threatened  with  an  immediate  siege,  and  had  no  "means  of 
defence.  Baldwin  was  a  prey  to  the  most  distressing  anxiety, 
when  a  stranger,  who  had  by  some  means  got  into  the  cit'y, 
demanded  to  speak  instantly  with  the  king  of  Jerusalem.— 


280  HISTORY    or    THE    CRUSADES. 

"  It  is  gratitude,"  said  he  to  him,  "  which  brings  me  here. 
Thou  hast  been  generous  towards  a  wife  who  is  most  dear  to 
me — thou  hast  restored  her  to  me  and  her  family,  after 
having  saved  her  life.  I  brave  a  thousand  dangers  to  acquit 
rnvseli'  of  so  sacred  a  debt.  The  Saracens  surround  the 
city  of  thy  retreat  on  all  sides  ;  to-morrow  it  will  be  taken, 
and  not  one  of  its  inhabitants  will  escape  death.  I  come  to 
offer  thee  means  of  safety.  I  am  acquainted  with  a  path 
which  is  not  guarded  ;*  hasten  then,  for  time  presses.  Thou 
hast  but  to  follow  me ;  before  the  da^^^l  of  day  thou  wilt  be 
among  thy  people." 

Baldwin  hesitated — he  shed  tears  at  the  idea  of  what 
must  be  the  fate  of  his  companions  in  misfortune  ;  but,  at 
length,  he  yielded  to  the  generosity  of  the  Mussulman  emir, 
and,  accompanied  by  a  weak  escort,  they  both  departed  from 
the  city,  in  the  middle  of  a  stormy  night.  On  gaining  the 
distance  of  a  few  leagues  from  Eamla,  they  separated  with 
tears  in  their  eyes  ;  the  emir  rejoined  the  Mussulman  army, 
and  Baldwin  succeeded  in  getting  to  the  city  of  Arsur. 

At  break  of  day  the  Saracens  advanced  towards  the  ram- 
parts of  Eamla.  They  quickly  gained  possession  of  the 
citj%  and  all  they  met  with  in  the  place  were  massacred. 
Some  soldiers  who  escaped  the  Saracens'  swords,  carried  the 
sad  news  to  the  neighbourino:  cities.  It  was  the  first  defeat 
the  Christians  had  experienced  since  their  arrival  in  Pales- 
tine. As  it  was  confidently  said  that  Baldwin  had  been 
slain  at  the  taking  of  Eamla,  this  loss  added  greatly  to  the 
general  consternation.  The  great  bell  of  Jerusalem  an- 
nounced the  approach  and  invasion  of  the  Saracens.  The 
priests,  the  monks,  the  pilgrims,  clothed  in  sackcloth  and 
barefooted,  went  in  procession  through  the  streets  of  the 
holy  city ;  women  and  children  filled  the  churches^  and  with 
tears  in  their  eyes  and  uplifted  hands  implored  the  mercy  of 
Heaven.  The  bravest  were  beginning  to  despah'  of  the  safety 
of  the  kingdom,  when  Bald\A'in  suddenly  appeared  among 
his  people,  says  "William  of  Tyre,  like  the  morning  star,  and 
revived  their  hopes  by  his  presence. 

The  king  of  Jerusalem  assembled  at  Jaffa  the  wreck  of  his 
armv:  and  the  Christian  cities  sent  him  all  their  inhabitants 

*  This  singular  fact  is  related  by  William  of  Tyre  with  all  its  details. — 
Chap.  X. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    CEUSAHES.  281 

capaWe  of  bearing  arms.  Several  princes  and  knights, 
arrived  from  the  West,  likewise  joined  him.  The  Christians 
marched  boldly  forth  to  meet  tlie  Mussulmans,  the  patriarch 
of  Jerusalem  carrying  through  the  ranks  the  wood  of  the 
holy  cross.  The  war-cry  of  the  Christian  soldiers  was : — 
^'■Christ  lives,  Christ  reigns,  Christ  commands.''''*  The  two 
armies  were  soon  in  sight  of  each  other  on  the  plains  of 
Jaffa,  and  instantly  the  trumpets  sounded,  and  gave  the 
signal  of  battle.  Both  sides  fought  with  fury  ;  the  infidels 
surrounded  the  Christians,  and  pressed  them  so  closely  that 
they  had  scarcely  room  to  wield  their  arms,  and  victory  was 
on  the  point  of  being  determined  in  favour  of  the  Mussul- 
mans, when  Baldwin  snatching  the  white  flag  from  the  hands 
of  his  squire,  and  followed  by  a  hundred  and  sixtv  knights, 
rushed  into  the  very  thickest  ranks  of  the  enemy.  This 
act  of  bravery  decided  the  fate  of  the  battle,  and  the  Chris- 
tians regained  their  courage.  The  fight  lasted  during  the 
whole  day,  but  towards  the  approach  of  night,  the  Mussul- 
mans fled  in  disorder,  leaving  dead  upon  the  field  the  emir 
of  Ascalon  and  four  thousand  of  their  bravest  soldiers. 

Baldwin,  who,  some  few  days  before,  had  been  believed  to 
be  dead,  reentered  Jerusalem  in  triumph.  He  gave  a  great 
part  of  the  booty  to  the  hospitallers  of  St,  John,  whose 
office  it  was  to  entertain  the  poor  and  all  pilgrims  ;  and,  to 
employ  the  expression  of  an  old  chronicle,  he  thus  shared 
with  Grod  the  spoils  of  the  Saracens. 

The  Christians  assembled  in  the  churches  rendered  thanks 
to  Grod  for  the  deliverance  of  the  kingdom  ;  but  this  last 
victory  could  not  dry  all  the  tears  which  a  first  reverse  had 
caused  to  flow,  and  funereal  hymns  were  mingled  with  the 
songs  of  joy.  In  this  campaign  perished  many  of  the 
princes  and  knights  who  had  lefb  Europe  after  the  first  cru- 

*  We  here  follow  the  version  of  Foulcher  de  Chartres,  who  makes  use 
of  the  word  vivit  instead  of  vincit,  which  appears  to  have  prevailed  after- 
wards. The  device  Chrislus  regnat,  vincit,  irnj}erat,  forms  the  leijend  of 
the  reverse  of  all  the  gold  coins  struck  in  France  from  the  time  of  John  to 
that  of  Louis  XVI.,  under  the  different  names  of  Francs  a  pied  el  a  cheval, 
of  Agnelets,  or  Ecus  d'or,  or  Louis.  In  the  most  ancient,  the  Francs, 
the  verb  vincit  is  the  first:  X.  P.  C.  vincit;  X.  P.  C.  regnat  ; 
X.  P.  C.  imperat;  Christ  conquers,  Christ  reigns,  and  Christ  governs ; 
which  proves  that  this  device  or  war-cry  may  be  traced  back  to  the  time 
of  the  crusades. 


282  niSTOEY    OF    TUE    CCUSADrS. 

sade.  Stephen,  count  of  Chartres  and  Blois,  and  Stephen, 
dulve  of  Burgundy,  who  had  arrived  in  Palestine  ^vith  the 
remains  of  an  army  dispersed  by  the  Turks  in  Asia  Minor, 
were  killed  imder  the  walls  of  Eamla.  As  the  Grreeks  were 
accused  of  having  prepared  the  ruin  of  the  armies  sent  to 
the  assistance  of  the  Latins,  murmurs  arose  in  all  the  Chris- 
tian colonies  against  the  emperor  Alexius.  This  prince,  con- 
stantly in  dread  of  the  powers  of  the  "West,  sent  to  congra- 
tulate the  king  of  Jerusalem  on  his  victories,  and  exerted 
himself  to  procure  the  liberty  of  the  Christians  Avho  had 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Egyptians  and  Turks.  After 
haring  delivered  or  ransomed  some  Christian  knights,  he  re- 
ceived them  at  Constantinople,  loaded  them  with  presents, 
and  sent  them  back  to  their  own  country. 

But  whilst  thus  breaking  the  chains  of  a  few  captives,  he 
was  equipping  fleets  and  raising  amiies  to  attack  Antioch, 
and  obtain  possession  of  the  cities  on  the  coast  of  Syria 
which  belonged  to  the  Latins.  He  offered  to  pay  the  ran- 
som of  Bohemond,  still  a  prisoner  among  the  Tiu-ks,  not  for 
the  purpose  of  setting  him  at  liberty,  but  to  have  him 
brought  to  Constantinople,  where  he  hoped  to  obtain  from 
him  the  renunciation  of  his  principality.  Bohemond,  who 
saw  through  the  projects  of  Alexius,  gained  the  good- will 
of  the  emir  who  detained  him  prisoner,  promised  him  his 
alliance  and  support,  and  persiuided  him  to  accept  for  his 
ransom,  half  the  sum  offered  by  the  emperor  of  the  Greeks. 
After  a  captirity  of  four  years,  he  returned  to  Antioch, 
where  he  employed  himself  in  repulsing  the  aggi'essions  of 
Alexius.  The  fleets  of  the  Pisans  and  the  Grenoese  came  to 
his  relief,  and  several  battles,  both  bv  sea  and  land,  were 
fought  with  various  success  ;  the  Latins  and  the  Greeks,  by 
turns,  obtaining  the  advantage. 

T\nbilst  this  war  was  being  carried  on  between  Alexius  and 
Bohemond,  the  Franks  neglected  no  opportunity  of  coming 
into  collision  witli  the  infidels.  Bohemond,  Baldwin  du 
Bourg,  count  of  Edessa,  and  his  cousin  Josselin  de  Courte- 
nay,*  master  of  several  cities  on  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates, 
united  their  forces  to  attack  Charan,  a  flourishing  cit>^  of 
Mesopotamia.     The  Christians,  after  a  siege  of  several  days, 

*  See  Gibbon  for  the  interesting  memoir  of  this  noble  family,  whose 
name  so  frequently  occurs  in  our  own  history,  and  is,  I  believe,  still 
extant,  in  the  Courtenays,  earls  of  Devon. — Trans. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    CRUSADES.  283 

were  on  the  point  of  entering  tlie  place,  when  the  count  of 
Edessa  and  the  prince  of  Antioch  disputed  the  possession  of 
it.  Whilst  the  debates  kept  the  best  leaders  in  the  Chris- 
tian tents,  the  Saracens  of  Mossoul  and  Aleppo  came  to  the 
assistance  of  the  city,  and  gave  battle  to  the  besiegers.  A 
great  number  of  Christians  were  slain  in  this  conflict ;  and 
many  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  infidels,  who,  in  the  intoxi- 
cation of  victory,  insulted  both  the  vanquished  and  the  reli- 
gion of  Christ.  History  relates  that  the  railleries  of  the 
Mussulmans  inspired  rage  and  despair  among  the  army  of 
the  Christians,  and  that  towards  the  end  of  the  fight,  one 
knight  braved  alone  the  victorious  infidels,  and  rushed  among 
the  enemy's  ranks,  crying,  "  Let  all  zvho  are  willing  to  sup 
with  me  in  Paradise,  follow  me^  This  brave  knight  at  first 
astonished  the  Saracens  by  his  daring,  but  he  soon  fell, 
pierced  with  many  wounds.  The  archbishop  of  Edessa, 
Josselin  de  Courtenay,  and  Baldwin  du  Bourg  were  loaded 
with  irons,  and  taken  to  the  prisons  of  Mossoul.  The 
prince  of  Antioch  and  Tancred  were  alone  able  to  escape  the 
pursuit  of  the  Mussulmans,  with  a  small  number  of  their 
soldiers.  This  defeat  spread  terror  among  all  the  Christians 
of  the  East.  Bohemond,  on  his  return  to  his  capital,  was 
menaced  at  the  same  time  by  the  Grreeks  and  the  Saracens ; 
and,  as  he  had  now  neither  allies  nor  auxiliaries,  and  was 
destitute  of  both  men  and  money,  he  determined  to  go  back 
into  Europe,  and  to  call  upon  the  nations  of  the  West  to 
assist  him. 

After  having  spread  abroad  a  report  of  his  death,  he  em- 
barked at  Antioch,  and,  concealed  in  a  coffin,*  passed  through 
the  fleet  of  the  G-reeks,  who  rejoiced  at  his  death,  and  heaped 
curses  on  his  memory.  On  arriving  in  Italy,  Bohemond 
went  to  throw  himself  at  the  feet  of  the  sovereign  pontiff" ; 
describing  the  misfortunes  he  had  endured  in  defence  of  the 
holy  religion,  and  invoking  the  vengeance  of  Heaven  upon 
Alexius,  whom  he  represented  as  the  greatest  scourge  of  the 
Christians.  The  pope  welcomed  him  as  a  hero  and  a  martyr; 
he  praised  his  exploits,  listened  to  his  complaints,  intrusted 
to  him  the  standard  of  St.  Peter,  and  permitted  him,  in  the 


*  **  Anna  Comnena  adds,  that  to  complete  the  deceit,  he  was  shut  up 
with  a  dead  cock  ;  and  wonders  how  the  barbarian  could  endure  the  con- 
finement and  putrefaction." — Notes  to  Gibbon. — Trans. 

Vol.  I.— 14 


284  HISTOET    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

name  of  tlie  Church,  to  raise  in  Europe  an  army  to  repair 
his  misfortimes  and  avenge  the  cause  of  Grod. 

Bohemond  next  went  to  France,  where  his  adventures  and 
exploits  had  made  his  name  familiar  to  all  classes.  He  pre- 
sented himself  at  the  court  of  Philip  I.,  who  received  him 
with  the  orreatest  honours,  and  s^ave  him  his  daus^hter  Con- 
stance  in  marriage.  Amidst  the  festi\"ities  of  the  court, 
he  was  by  turns  the  most  brilliant  of  knights  and  the  most 
ardent  of  missionaries ;  he  attracted  general  admiration 
by  his  skill  in  the  tournaments,  and  preached  war  against 
the  enemies  of  the  Christians.  He  easily  fired  hearts  already 
glowing  "uith  a  love  of  military'  glory ;  and  a  great  number 
of  knights  contended  for  the  honour  of  accompam*ing  him 
into  the  East.  He  crossed  the  Pvrenees  and  raised  soldiers 
in  Spain ;  he  returned  into  Italy  and  met  every^vhere  with 
the  same  eagerness  to  follow  him.  All  preparations  being 
completed,  he  embarked  at  Bari,  and  sailed  towards  the  ter- 
ritories of  the  Greek  emperor,  where  his  threats  and  the 
fame  of  his  expedition  had  already  spread  terror. 

The  prince  of  Antioch  never  ceased  to  animate  by  his 
speeches  the  ardour  of  his  numerous  companions :  to  some 
he  represented  the  G-reeks  as  the  allies  of  the  ^Mussulmans 
and  the  enemies  of  Christ ;  to  others  he  spoke  of  the  riches 
of  Alexius,  and  promised  them  the  spoils  of  the  empire.  He 
was  on  the  point  of  realizing  his  brilliant  hopes,  when  he 
was,  all  at  once,  abandoned  bv  that  fortune  which  had 
hitherto  performed  such  prodigies  in  his  favour. 

The  city  of  Durazzo,  of  which  he  had  undertaken  the 
siege,  for  a  long  time  resisted  all  his  eiforts  ;  disease,  in  the 
meanwhile,  ravaging  his  army.  The  warriors  who  had  fol- 
lowed him  in  the  hopes  of  pillage,  or  from  a  desire  to  visit 
the  Holy  Land,  deserted  his  standard ;  he  was  forced  to  make 
a  disgi'aceful  peace  with  the  emperor  he  had  endeavoured  to 
dethrone,  and  came  back  to  die  in  despair  in  the  little  prin- 
cipality of  Tarentum,  which  he  had  abandoned  for  the  con- 
quest of  the  East. 

The  unfortunate  issue  of  this  crusade,  which  was  directed 
entirelv  as^ainst  the  Greeks,  became  fatal  to  the  Christians 
estabhshed  ia  Svria,  and  deprived  them  of  the  succours  they 
had  reason  to  expect  from  the  West.  Tancred,  who  still 
governed  Antioch,  in  the  absence  and  after  the  death  of 
^-T^o^iiond,  was   attacked   several   times   by  the   Saracens 


HISTOET   OF    THE    CRUSADE3.  285 

of  Aleppo,  and  only  resisted  them  by  displaying  prodigies  of 
valour.  Josselin  and  Baldwin  da  Bourg  did  not  return  to 
their  states  till  after  five  years  of  captivity.  AVhen  Baldwin 
came  back  to  Edessa,  he  was  so  poor  that  he  coidd  not  pay 
his  common  domestics ;  and  an  Armenian  prince,  whose 
daughter  he  had  married,  was  obliged  to  redeem  the  beard  * 
of  his  son-in-law,  which  he  had  pledged  for  the  means  of 
paying  his  soldiers.  The  resources  of  the  government  of 
Antioch  were  not  less  exhausted  than  those  of  the  county 
of  Edessa.  In  the  extremes  of  their  misery,  Tancred  and 
Baldwin  du  Bourg  had  several  disputes  ;  each,  by  turns, 
called  in  the  Saracens  to  defend  his  cause,  and  everything  was 
in  confusion  on  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates  and  the  Orontes. 
Neither  was  Jerusalem  free  from  discord.  Baldvrin  could 
not  pay  his  soldiers,  and  demanded  money  of  the  patriarch, 
who  was  the  depositary  of  the  alms  of  the  faithful.  Daim- 
bert  at  first  refused  to  assist  the  king,  who  resolved  to  em- 
ploy force  to  compel  him :  "  Yes,"  said  he  to  the  patriarch,  in 
a  transport  of  anger,  "  I  will  bear  away  the  treasures  of  the 
church  and  the  holy  sepulchre ;  I  wish  to  save  Jerusalem 
and  the  Christian  people ;  when  I  have  accomplished  that 
noble  project,  I  will  restore  the  riches  of  the  all-powerful 
Grod."  Daimbert,  intimidated  by  the  menaces  of  Baldwin, 
consented  to  give  up  a  part  of  his  treasures ;  but  as  fast  as 
the  king  of  Jerusalem  experienced  new  wants,  he  made  fresh 
demands,  to  which  the  pontifi*  responded  by  an  insulting 
refusal.  He  accused  the  king  of  profaning  and  plundering 
the  sanctuary ;  whilst  the  king,  on  his  part,  accused  Daim- 
bert of  betraying  the  cause  of  the  Christians,  and  of  dissi- 
pating in  pleasures  and  festivities  the  treasures  of  Jesus 
Christ.  The  quarrels  of  Baldwin  and  the  patriarch  were 
renewed  every  year ;  both,  in  the  end,  often  conveyed  their 
complaints  to  the  Holy  See,  w-hich  pronounced  no  decision 
likely  to  conciliate  the  angry  parties.  The  death  of 
Daimbert  could  alone  put  an  end  to  these  discussions,  which 
spread  scandal  through  the  church  of  Christ,  and  by  weak- 

*  This  may  at  first  appear  a  singular  pledge  ;  but  when  wc  remember 
the  great  consideration  in  which  beards  were  and  are  held  in  the  East,  we 
are  reconciled  to  the  fact.  Beckford  makes  Vathek  inflict  loss  of  beard 
upon  the  sages  who  cannot  decipher  the  magic  characters  upon  the  sabres, 
as  the  greatest  possible  punishment ;  and  ffew  were  better  acquainted  with 
Eastern  manners  than  the  master  of  Font-hill  Abbey. — Trans. 


286  HISTORY   OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

enins:  the  aathoritv  of  the  kiDc:,  -were  likely  to  lead  to  tlie 
ruin  of  the  kingdom. 

"Wliilst  the  patriarch  was  unceasingly  making  complaints 
against  Baldwin,  the  king  seldom  made  anv  other  reply  than 
gaining  new  Adctories  over  the  infidels ;  nothing  being  able 
to  divert  him  from  his  pui'pose  of  ever}'  day  aggrandizing 
his  dominions.  The  prosperity  and  the  safety  of  Jerusalem 
appeared  closely  connected  with  the  conquest  of  the  mari- 
time cities  of  S\'ria  and  Palestine  ;  it  beins:  bv  them  alone 
that  it  could  receive  succour,  or  establish  prompt  and  easy 
communications  with  the  ^^est.  The  maritime  nations  of 
Europe  were  interested  in  seconding,  in  this  instance,  the 
enterprises  of  the  king  of  Jerusalem.  The  navigation  of 
the  Mediterranean,  and  the  transporting  of  pilgrims  to  the 
Holv  Land,  were  to  them  an  inexhaustible  source  of  riches  ; 
the  ports  of  Syria  would  offer  to  them  a  commodious  asylum 
for  their  vessels,  and  a  safe  entrepot  for  their  commerce. 

From  the  period  of  the  first  crusades  the  Pisans  and  the 
Grenoese  had  constantly  sent  vessels  to  the  seas  of  the  East ; 
and  their  fleets  had  aided  the  Christians  in  several  expedi- 
tions against  the  Mussulmans,  A  Genoese  fleet  had  just 
arrived  in  the  seas  of  Syria  when  Baldwin  undertook  the 
siege  of  Ptolemais.  The  Genoese  were  invited  to  assist  in  this 
conquest ;  but  as  religion  was  not  the  principle  to  bring  them 
into  action,  they  required,  in  return  for  their  assistance  and 
theii'  labour,  that  they  should  have  a  third  of  the  booty ; 
they  likewise  stipulated  to  have  a  separate  church  for  them- 
selves, and  a  national  factory  and  tribunal  in  the  conquered 
city.  Ptolemais  was  besieged  bv  land  and  sea,  and  after  a 
bloodv  resistance  of  twentv  davs,  the  inhabitants  and  the 
garrison  proposed  to  surrender,  and  nnplored  the  clemency 
of  the  conquerors.  The  city  opened  its  gates  to  the  Chris- 
tians, and  the  inhabitants  prepared  to  depart,  taking  with 
them  whatever  they  deemed  most  valuable  ;  but  the  Genoese, 
at  the  sight  of  such  a  rich  booty,  paid  no  respect  to  the  capi- 
tulation, and  massacred  without  pity  a  disarmed  and  defence- 
less people.  This  barbarous  conduct,  which  Baldwin  could 
neither  repress  nor  pimish,  excited  the  Mussulmans  more 
than  ever  against  the  Christians. 

At  each  fresh  conquest  of  Baldwin's,  a  new  army'  came 
from  the  banks  of  the  Nile  to  impede  the  course  of  his  vic- 
tories *,  but  the  Eg^-ptians  had  for  a  long  time  been  accus- 


niSTOHY   OF   TKE    CRUSADES.  287 

tomed  to  fly  before  tlie  Pranks,  and  they  were  never  seconded 
in  their  expeditions  by  the  Mussulmans  of  Syria,  who  were 
jealous  of  their  appearance  in  their  territories.  A  small 
number  of  Christian  warriors,  who  could  never  have  been 
taken  for  an  army  if  they  had  not  performed  prodigies,  were 
suiBcient  to  put  to  the  rout  a  multitude  of  soldiers  who 
made  a  sortie  from  the  walls  of  Ascalon.  In  consequence 
of  this  victory,  several  places  which  the  Egyptians  still  held 
on  the  coasts  of  Syria,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Christians. 

Bertrand,  son  of  Raymond  de  St.  Gilles,  arrived  from 
Europe  with  the  purpose  of  attacking  the  city  of  Tripoli. 
This  city,  taken  at  first  by  the  Egyptians  before  the  first 
crusade,  and  fallen  again  under  the  power  of  a  Turkish 
commander,  had,  in  order  to  defend  itself  against  the  Chris- 
tians, once  more  recognised  the  authority  of  the  caliph  of 
Egypt.  But  tins  caliph  thought  more  about  punishing  the 
rebellion  of  Tripoli  than  of  providing  for  its  defence.  He 
liad  put  the  principal  inhabitants  in  irons,  had  levied  heavy 
tributes,  and  when  the  people  implored  his  assistance  against 
the  enemies  of  Islamism,  the  caliph  sent  a  vessel  to  demand 
a  beautiful  slave  who  was  in  the  city,  and  whom  he  destined 
for  his  seraglio.  The  irritated  people,  instead  of  giving  up 
the  slave  he  demanded,  sent  him  a  piece  of  wood,  saying, 
"  T'liat  lie  might  make  something  out  of  that  to  amuse  himself 
idthy  *  The  inhabitants  of  Tripoli,  -then  being  without 
hope,  surrendered  to  the  Christians. 

llaymond,  count  de  St.  Grilles  and  of  Thoulouse,  one  of 
the  companions  of  Grodfrey,  after  having  wandered  for  a  long 
time  about  Asia,  had  died  before  this  place,  of  which  he  had 
commenced  the  siege.  In  memory  of  his  exploits  in  the 
first  crusade,  the  rich  territory  of  Tripoli  was  created  a 
county,  and  became  the  inheritance  of  his  family. 

This  territory  was  celebrated  for  its  productions.  Limpid 
streams,  rushing  with  impetuosity  between  the  rocks  of 
Libanus,  flowed  in  many  chaimels  to  water  the  numerous 
gardens  of  Tripoli.  In  the  plains,  and  on  the  hills  adjacent 
to  the  sea,  grew  in  abundance  wheat,  the  vine,  the  olive,  and 
the  white  mulberry,  whose  leaves  nourish  the  silkworm, 
which  had  been  introduced  by  Justinian  into  the  richest 
provinces  of  his   empire.     The  city  of  Tripoli  contained 

*  These  details  are  taken  from  the  Arabian  historian  Novdiry. 


288  niSTOEY  OF  the  crusades. 

more  t lian  four  thousand  workmen,  skilful  in  tlie  manufac- 
tures of  woollen  stuffs,  of  silk,  and  of  linen.  A  great  part 
of  these  advantages  was,  no  doubt,  lost  for  the  conquerors, 
who,  during  the  siege  ravaged  the  country  round,  and  on 
taking  the  citv,  carried  fire  and  sword  throughout  the  whole 
of  it. 

Tripoli  contained  other  riches  for  which  the  Franks  showed 
no  less  disdain  than  they  had  e^*inced  for  the  productions  of 
industry.  A  library  established  in  this  citv,  and  celebrated 
throuo^h  all  the  East,  contained  the  monuments*  of  the  an- 
cient literature  of  the  Persians,  the  Arabians,  the  Eg^'ptians, 
and  the  Greeks.  A  hundred  copyists  were  there  constantly 
employed  in  transcribing  manuscripts.  The  cadi  sent  into 
all  countries  men  authorized  to  purchase  rare  and  precious 
books.  After  the  taking  of  the  city,  a  priest,  attached  to 
Count  Bernard  de  St.  Gilles,t  entered  the  room  in  which 
were  collected  a  vast  number  of  copies  of  the  Koran,  and  as 
he  declared  the  library  of  Tripoli  contained  only  the  impious 
books  of  ]\[ahomet,  it  was  given  up  to  the  flames.  Some 
eastern  authors  have  bitterly  deplored  this  irreparable  loss ; 
but  not  one  of  our  contem.porary  chronicles  has  spoken  of 
it,  and  their  silence  plainly  shows  the  profound  indifference 
v^-ith  which  the  Erank  soldiers  were  witnesses  of  a  fire  which 
consumed  a  hundi'ed  thousand  volumes. 

Biblies,  situated  on  the  smiling  and  fertile  shores  of  Phoe- 
nicia; Sarepta,  where  St.  Jerome  saw  still  in  his  day  the  tower 
of  Isaiah ;  and  Berytus,  famous  in  the  early  ages  of  the 
Chm'ch  for  its  scliool  of  eloquence,  shared  the  fate  of  Tri- 
poli, and  became  baronies  bestowed  upon  Christian  knights. 
After  these  conquests  the  Pisans,  the  Genoese,  and  several 

*  Sir  William  d'Avenant  elegantly  calls  books  "the  monuraents  of 
deceased  minds." — Trans. 

f  Aboulteda  in  his  account  justifies  the  Genoese  for  the  massncre  of  the 
Mussulmans  ;  the  city  being  taken  by  assault,  they  did  not  exc  ed  the 
usual  rights  of  war.  Another  Arabian  historian,  Ebn-Abi-Tai,  says  that 
the  Christians  exhibited  at  the  taking  of  Tripoli  the  same  destructive  fury 
as  the  Arabs  had  uho  burnt  the  library  of  Alexandria.  Tlie  same  his- 
torian speaks  of  the  incredible  number  of  three  millions  of  voluanes.  We 
have  preferred  the  version  of  NovaVry,  who  reduces  the  numb'irof  vohimes 
to  a  hundred  thousand.  This  author  states  that  the  library  of  Tripoli 
•was  founded  by  the  cadi  Aboutaleb  Hasen,  who  had  himself  composed 
several  works. 


HTSTORT    OF   THE    CRUSADES.  289 

warriors  who  had  followed  Baldwin  in  his  expeditions, 
returned  into  Europe  ;  and  the  king  of  Jerusalem,  abandoned 
by  these  useful  allies,  was  obliged  to  employ  the  forces  which 
remained  in  repulsing  the  invasions  of  the  Saracens,  who 
pe]ietrated  into  Palestine,  and  even  displayed  their  standards 
on  Mount  Sion.  He  had  given  up  the  idea  of  subduing  the 
maritime  cities  which  still  belonged  to  the  Egyptians,  when 
Sigur,  son  of  Magnus,  king  of  Norway,  arrived  in  the  port 
of  Jaila.  Sigur  was  accompanied  by  ten  thousand  Nor- 
wegians, who,  three  years  before,  had  quitted  the  north  of 
Europe  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  the  Holy  Land.  Baldwin 
went  to  meet  the  prince  of  Norway,  and  conjured  him  to 
join  with  him  in  fighting  for  the  safety  and  aggrandizement 
of  the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ.  Sigur  acceded  with  joy  to 
the  prayer  of  the  king,  and  requued  nothing  as  a  recompense 
for  his  labour  but  a  piece  of  wood  from  the  true  cross. 

The  patriarch  of  Jerusalem,  in  order  to  give  additional 
value  to  that  Avhich  the  prince  required,  hesitated  at  first  to 
grant  it,  and  made  Vvith  him  a  treaty  at  least  as  solemn  as  if 
it  had  concerned  the  possession  of  a  kingdom.  When  they 
had  both  taken  an  oath  to  fulfil  the  conditions  of  the  treaty, 
Sigur,  accompanied  by  his  warriors,  entered  Jerusalem  in 
triumph.  The  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  beheld  with  smprise, 
mingled  with  their  joy,  the,  enormous  battle-axes,  the  light 
hair,  and  lofty  stature  of  the  pilgrims  from  Norway ;  the 
presence  of  these  redoubtable  Avarriors  was  the  sure  presage 
of  Adctory.  It  was  resolved  in  a  council  to  besiege  the  city 
of  Sidon ;  Baldwin  and  Bertrand,  count  of  Tripoli,  attacked 
the  ramparts  of  the  place,  whilst  the  fleet  of  Sigur  blockaded 
the  port,  and  directed  its  operations  against  the  side  next 
the  sea.  After  a  siege  of  six  weeks  the  citv  surrendered  to 
the  Christians ;  the  knights  of  Baldwin  and  the  soldiers  of 
Sigiu"  performed  during  the  siege  prodigies  of  valour,  and 
showed,  after  their  victory,  the  humanity  which  always 
accompanies  true  bravery.  After  this  conquest  Sigur  quitted 
Palestine,  accompanied  by  the  blessings  of  the  Christian 
people.  He  embarked  to  return  to  Norway,  carrying  wdth 
him  a  piece  of  the  true  cross,  a  precious  memorial  of  his 
pilgrimage,  which  he  caused  to  be  placed  in  a  church  of 
Drontheim,  where  it  was  for  a  long  time  the  object  of  the 
veneration  of  the  faithful. 


290  niSTOET    OF    THE    CfiUSADES. 

Baldwin,  on  his  return  to  Lis  capital,  learnt  with  grief 
that  Grervais,  count  of  Tiberias,  had  been  surprised  by  the 
Turks,  and  led  prisoner,  together  with  his  most  faithful 
knights,  to  the  city  of  Damascus.  Mussulman  deputies 
came  to  offer  the  king  of  Jerusalem  the  liberty  of  Gervais  in 
exchange  for  Ptolema'is,  Jaffa,  and  some  other  cities  taken 
by  the  Christians ;  a  refusal,  they  added,  would  be  followed 
by  the  death  of  Count  Gervais.  Baldwin  offered  to  pay  a 
considerable  sum  for  the  liberty  of  Gervais,  whom  he  loved 
tenderly :  "  As  for  the  cities  you  demand,"  said  he  to  them, 
'"  I  would  not  give  them  up  to  you  for  the  sake  of  my  own. 
brother,  nor  for  that  of  all  the  Christian  princes  together." 
On  the  return  of  the  ambassadors  Gervais  and  his  knights 
were  dragged  to  an  open  place  in  Damascus,  and  shot  to 
death  by  the  Saracens  with  arrows. 

The  Christians  shed  tears  at  the  death  of  Count  Gervais, 
but  they  soon  had  to  weep  for  a  much  more  painful  loss. 
Tancred,  who  governed  the  principality  of  Antioch,  died  in 
an  expedition  agamst  the  infidels.  He  had  raised  high  in 
the  East  the  opinion  of  the  heroic  virtues  of  a  French 
knight ;  never  had  weakness  or  misfortune  implored  his  aid 
in  vain.  He  gained  a  great  many  victories  over  the  Sara- 
cens, but  never  fought  for  the  ends  of  ambition.  Nothing 
could  shake  his  fidelity,  nothing  appeared  impossible  to  his 
valour.  He  answered  the  ambassadors  of  Alexius,  who  re- 
quii'ed  him  to  restore  Antioch :  **  I  would  not  give  up  the 
city  which  is  confided  to  me  even  if  the  warriors  who  pre- 
sented themselves  to  conquer  it  had  bodies  and  bore  arms  of 
fire."  "Whilst  he  lived,  Antioch  had  nothing  to  fear  from 
the  invasion  of  the  infidels  or  the  discord  of  the  inhabitants. 
His  death  consigned  the  colony  to  disorder  and  confusion,  it 
spread  mourning  through  all  the  Christian  states  of  the 
East,  and  was  for  them  the  signal  of  the  greatest  reverses. 

The  kingdom  of  Jerusalem  had  hitherto  only  had  to  con- 
tend against  armies  drawn  from  Egypt ;  the  Turks  of  Syria, 
much  more  terrible  in  war  than  the  Egyptians,  had  never 
united  their  forces  to  attack  the  Christians  of  Jerusalem.* 

The  sultans  of  Damascus  and  Mossoul,  with  several  emirs 
of  Mesopotamia,    assembled   an   army  of   thirty  thousand 

*  The  governor  of  Mossoul  is  called  by  the  Latins  Maledoctus,  Mandult, 
and  by  the  Arabians  Mauduts.     Togdequin  was  prince  of  Damascus. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    CEITSADES.  291 

fighting  men,  and  penetrated  tlirougli  the  mountains  of 
Libanus  into  Galilee.  During  more  than  three  months  the 
banks  of  the  Jordan  and  of  the  Lake  of  Genesarethwere  devas- 
tated by  the  horrors  of  war.  The  king  of  Jerusalem  placed 
himself  at  the  head  of  his  knights  to  encounter  this  re- 
doubtable enemy,  and  was  defeated  by  the  Saracens  on  the 
plains  near  Mount  Tabor.  Roger  of  Sicily,  who  had  been 
governor  of  Antioch  since  the  death  of  Tancred,  and  the 
counts  of  Tripoli  and  Edessa,  came  with  their  troops  to  the 
assistance  of  Baldwin.  The  Christian  army,  although  it 
then  mustered  under  its  banners  eleven  thousand  combat- 
ants, took  up  its  encampment  on  the  mountains,  and  did  not 
dare  to  risk  a  battle.  The  Christians,  intrenched  upon  the 
heights,  beheld  their  fields  ravaged  and  their  cities  burnt. 
All  the  banks  of  the  Jordan  seemed  to  be  in  flames ;  for  a 
vast  number  of  Saracens  from  Ascalon,  T}Te,  and  other 
Mussulman  cities,  had  taken  advantage  of  the  reverses  of 
the  Christians  to  lay  waste  many  of  the  provinces  of  Pales- 
tine. The  country  of  Sechem  was  invaded,  and  the  city  of 
JSTaplouse  delivered  up  to  pillage.  Jerusalem,  which  was 
without  defenders,  shut  its  gates,  and  was  in  momentary 
fear  of  falling  again  into  the  power  of  the  infidels. 

The  Turks,  however,  dreading  the  arrival  of  fresh  pilgrims 
from  the  West,  abandoned  Galilee,  and  returned  to  Damas- 
cus and  Mossoul.  But  other  calamities  soon  followed  those 
of  war.  Clouds  of  locusts  from  Arabia  finished  the  devas- 
tation of  the  fields  of  Palestine.  A  horrible  famine  pre- 
vailed in  the  county  of  Edessa,  the  principality  of  Antioch, 
and  all  the  Christian  states.  An  earthquake  was  felt  from 
Mount  Taurus  to  the  deserts  of  Idumea,  by  which  several 
cities  of  Cilicia  were  reduced  to  heaps  of  ruins.  At  Samo- 
sata,  an  Armenian  prince  was  swallowed  up  in  his  own 
palace ;  thirteen  towers  of  the  walls  of  Edessa,  and  the 
citadel  of  Aleppo,  fell  down  with  a  fearfid  crash ;  the  towers 
of  the  highest  fortresses  covered  the  earth  with  their  remains, 
and  the  commanders,  whether  Mussulmans  or  Christians, 
fled  with  their  soldiers  to  seek  safety  in  deserts  and  forests. 
Antioch  suffered  more  from  the  earthquake  than  any  other 
city.  The  tower  of  the  uorthern  gate,  many  public  edifices, 
and  several  churches  were  completely  destroyed. 

Gr^at  troubles  always  inspired  the  Christians  with  feelings 

14* 


292  UlSTOHY    OF   TUE    CRUSADES. 

of  penitence.  A  crowd  of  men  and  women  rushed  to  the 
cburch  of  St.  Peter  of  Antioch,  confessed  their  sins  to  the 
patriarch,  and  conjured  him  to  appease  the  anger  of  Heaven. 
The  shocks,  nevertheless,  were  rencAved  during  five  months ; 
the  Christians  abandoned  the  cities,  and,  a  prev  to  terror, 
"wandered  among  the  mountains,  which  now  were  more 
thicklv  inhabited  than  the  greatest  cities.  The  few  who 
remained  in  cities  constantly  formed  religious  processions, 
put  on  habits  of  mourning,  and  totallv  renounced  pleasures 
of  every  kind.  In  the  streets  and  the  churches  nothing  was 
heard  but  lamentations  and  prayers ;  men  swore  to  forgive 
all  injui'ies,  and  were  profuse  in  their  charities.  At  length 
Heaven  appeared  to  be  appeased ;  the  earthquake  ceased  its 
ravages,  and  tlie  assembled  Christians  celebrated  the  mercy 
of  God  by  a  solemn  festival. 

Scarcely  were  the  Christians  delivered  from  these  alarms 
than  a  new  tempest  threatened  Syria  and  Palestine.*  Mau- 
doud,  nrince  or  governor  of  Mossoul,  had  been  killed  by  two 
Ismaelians,  as  he  was  comin":  out  of  a  mosque.  As  the 
prince  of  !^^ossoul  was  consicfered  the  most  firm  support  of 
Islamism  and  the  most  redoubtable  enemv  of  the  Christians, 
the  caliph  and  the  sultan  of  Bagdad  placed  him  in  the  rank 
of  the  mart^TS.  and  resolved  to  reven£:e  his  death.  Thev 
accused  the  Franks  and  tlie  sultan  of  Damascus  of  the 
miu'der  of  a  Mussuhnan  prince.  A  numerous  army  set  out 
from  the  banks  of  the  Tigris,  and  advanced  towards  Svria, 
to  punish  at  the  same  time  both  the  Christian  and  [Mussul- 
man infidels.  The  warriors  of  Bagdad,  united  with  those  of 
Mossoul.  penetrated  as  far  as  the  lands  of  Aleppo,  and 
carried  destruction  and  death  wherever  they  went.  In 
this  pressing  danger  the  Saracens  of  Damascus  and  Meso- 
potamia did  not  hesitate  to  form  an  alliance  vdih  the  Chris- 
tian princes.  The  king  of  Jerusalem,  the  prince  of  Antioch, 
and  the  count  of  Tripoli  united  their  ti'oops  with  those  of 
the  Mussulmans.  The  Christians  were  full  of  zeal  and 
ardour,  and  were  eager  for  battle,  but  their  new  allies  were 
not  willins^  to  crive  them  the  advantasre  of  a  victorv,  as  thev 
mistrusted  the  soldiers  of  Clirist,  and  used  everv  effort  to 

*  We  have  avoided  mentioning  too  frequently  the  sultans  and  emirs  of 
Syria,  whose  names  seem  the  more  barbarous  as  they  are  correctly 
written. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  293 

avoid  a  decisive  engagement,  in  whicli  tliey  dreaded  tlie 
triumpli  of  their  auxiliaries  as  much  as  that  of  their  foes. 
After  having  ravaged  the  territory  of  Aleppo,  and  the  banks 
of  the  Euphrates  and  the  Orontes,  the  warriors  of  Bagdad 
returned  to  their  own  country  "udthout  trying  their  strength 
with  their  formidable  adversaries.  The  Christians  in  this 
campaign  did  not  illustrate  their  arms  by  any  very  brilliant 
exploits,  but  they  kept  up  the  division  among  the  Saracens, 
and  the  discord  of  their  enemies  was  more  serviceable  to 
them  than  a  great  \"ictory. 

The  king  of  Jerusalem,  no  longer  ha"sdng  the  Turks  of 
Bagdad  or  the  Turks  established  in  Syria  to  contend  with, 
turned  his  attention  towards  Egypt,  whose  armies  he  had  so 
frequently  dispersed.*  He  collected  his  chosen  warriors, 
traversed  the  desert,  carried  the  terror  of  his  arms  to  the 
banks  of  the  Nile,  and  surprised  and  pillaged  the  city  of 
Pharamia,  situated  three  days'  journey  from  Cairo.  The 
success  of  this  expedition  gave  him  room  to  hope  that  he 
should  one  day  render  himself  master  of  a  great  kingdom, 
and  he  was  returning  triumphant,  and  loaded  with  booty,  to 
Jerusalem,  when  he  fell  sick  at  El-Arrich,  on  the  confines  of 
the  desert  which  separates  Egypt  from  Palestine.  His  life 
was  soon  despaired  of,  and  the  companions  of  his  victories, 
assembled  around  him,  could  not  conceal  their  deep  sorrow. 
Baldwin  endeavoured  to  console  them  by  his  discourses : 
"My  dear  companions,"  said  he  to  them,  "you  who  have 
suffered  so  many  evils  and  braved  so  many  perils,  why  do 
you  allow  yourselves  to  be  overcome  by  grief?  Remember 
that  you  are  still  in  the  territories  of  the  Saracens,  and  that 
you  stand  in  need  of  all  your  customary  courage.  Consider 
that  you  only  lose  in  me  a  single  man,  and  that  you  have 
among  you  several  warriors  who  surpass  me  in  skill.  Think 
of  nothing  but  of  returning  victorious  to  Jerusalem,  and  of 
defending  the  heritage  of  Christ.  If  I  have  fought  a  long 
time  with  you,  and  my  many  labours  give  me  the  right  of 
addressing  a  prayer  to  you,  I  conjure  you  not  to  leave  my 
bones  in  a  foreign  land,  but  to  bury  them  near  to  the  tomb 
of  my  brother  Godfrey." 

The  king  of  Jerusalem  then  caused  his  servants  to  be 

*  Tabari  and  Aboul-Feda. 


294  HISTOET    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

assembled,  and  gave  them  orders  for  liis  sepulture.  After 
having  nominated  Baldwin  du  Bourg  as  his  successor,  he 
expired,  siuToimded  by  his  companions,  who,  though  deeplj 
grieved,  endeavoured  to  conceal  their  tears,  that  the  Sara- 
cens might  not  learn  the  great  loss  the  Christians  had 
experienced. 

Baldwin  lived  and  died  in  the  midst  of  camps.  During 
his  reign,  which  lasted  eigliteen  years,  the  inhabitants  of 
Jerusalem  were  annually  warned  of  the  approach  of  the 
Saracens  by  the  sound  of  the  great  bell ;  and  they  scarcely 
ever  saw  the  wood  of  the  trae  cross  in  the  sanctuary,  for 
this  sacred  relic  always  accompanied  the  armies  to  battle, 
and  its  presence  not  unfrequently  was  sufB.cient  to  give 
victory  to  the  Christians. 

During  the  time  he  occupied  the  throne  of  Jerusalem, 
the  only  means  Baldwin  had  of  keeping  up  his  necessary 
army  arose  from  the  tenths  of  the  produce  of  the  cultivated 
lands,  some  taxes  upon  commerce,  the  booty  obtained  from 
enemies,  and  the  ransom  of  prisoners.  When  peace  lasted 
some  months,  or  war  was  unsuccessful,  the  revenues  of  the 
state  were  diminished  to  half  their  usual  amount,  and  could 
not  meet  the  most  necessary  expenses.  The  forces  of  the 
kins^dom  were  scarcelv  sufficient  to  defend  it  in  the  hour  ot 
danger.  Baldwin  could  never  undertake  any  great  enter- 
prise except  when  reinforcements  arrived  from  the  West ; 
and  when  pilgrims  who  bore  arms  returned  to  their  own 
country,  he  was  often  obliged  to  abandon  an  expedition 
which  he  had  begun,  and  sometimes  found  himself  without 
means  of  resistance,  when  exposed  to  the  attacks  of  an 
enemv  alwavs  eao:er  to  avensre  his  defeats. 

The  brother  and  successor  of  Godfrey  was  often  on  the 
point  of  losing  his  kingdom,  and  only  preserved  it  by  pro- 
digies of  valoiu".  He  lost  several  battles  by  his  rashness 
and  imprudence ;  but  his  wonderful  activity  always  extri- 
cated him  from  whatever  perils  he  chanced  to  fall  into. 

The  historians  of  the  times  bestow  warm  eulogies  upon 
the  briUiant  qualities  of  Baldwin.  In  the  first  crusade  he 
made  himself  greatly  hated  for  liis  ambitious  and  haughty 
character ;  but  as  soon  as  he  had  obtained  what  he  desired 
and  ascended  a  throne,  he  was  at  least  equally  admired  for 
his  generosity  and  clemency.     "When  he  became  king  of 


niSTORT    or    THE    CKUSADES.  295 

Jerusalem,  he  followed  the  example  of  Godfrey,  and  deserved 
in  his  turn  to  be  held  up  as  a  model  to  his  successors. 

His  extreme  love  for  women  sometimes  drew  upon  him 
the  severe  censures  of  the  clergy.  To  expiate  his  offences, 
in  accordance  with  the  opinions  of  the  times,  he  richly  en- 
dowed churches,  particularly  that  of  Bethlehem  ;  and  many 
other  religious  establishments  owe  their  foundation  to  him. 
Amidst  the  tumult  of  camps,  he  added  several  articles  to 
the  code  of  his  predecessor ;  but  that  which  did  most  honour 
to  his  reign,  was  his  constant  anxiet}^  to  repeople  Jerusalem. 
He  offered  an  honourable  asylum  to  all  the  Christians  scat- 
tered over  Arabia,  Syria,  and  Egypt.  Christians  persecuted 
by  Mussulmans  came  to  him  in  crowds,  with  then*  wives, 
their  children,  and  their  wealth.  Baldwin  distributed 
amongst  them  lands  and  uninhabited  houses,  and  Jerusalem 
began  to  be  flourishing. 

The  last  wishes  of  Baldwin  were  accomplished.  The 
Christian  army,  preceded  by  the  mortal  remains  of  its  chief, 
returned  to  Jerusalem.  Baldwin  du  Bourg,  who  came  to 
the  holy  city  to  celebrate  the  festival  of  Easter  and  to  visit 
the  brother  of  Godfrey,  arrived  on  Palm -Sunday  at  the  hour 
in  which  the  clergy  and  tlie  people,  according  to  ancient 
custom,  go  in  procession  to  the  Valley  of  Jehoshaphat.  As 
he  entered  by  the  gate  of  Ephraim,  the  funeral  train  of 
Baldwin,  accompanied  by  his  warriors  in  mourning,  entered 
by  the  gate  of  Damascus.  At  this  sight  melancholy  cries 
were  mingled  with  the  hymns  of  the  Christians.  The 
Latins  were  deeply  afflicted,  the  Syrians  wept,  and  the 
Saracens,  says  Eoulcher  de  Chartres,  who  were  witnesses  of 
this  moiu-nful  spectacle,  coidd  not  restrain  their  tears.  In 
the  midst  of  the  sorrowing  people,  the  count  of  Edessa 
accompanied  the  funereal  convoy  to  the  foot  of  Calvary, 
where  Baldwin  was  buried  close  to  Godfrey. 

Although  the  late  king  had  pointed  out  Baldwm  du  Bourg 
as  his  successor,  the  barons  and  the  prelates  met  to  elect  a 
new  prince.  Several  proposed  to  offer  the  crown  to  Eustace 
de  Boulogne,  the  brother  of  Godfrey.  Josselin  de  Courtenay, 
one  of  the  first  counts  of  the  kingdom,  declared  himself  in 
favour  of  Baldwin  du  Bourg.  Josselin,  on  arriving  in  Asia, 
had  been  welcomed  and  loaded  with  favours  by  the  count  of 
Edessa,  who  gave  him   several   cities   on   the   Euphrates. 


296  HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

Expelled  afterwards  ignominiously  by  his  benefactor,  who 
accused  him  of  ingratitude,  he  had  taken  refuge  in  the  king- 
dom of  Jerusalem,  in  which  he  had  obtained  the  principality 
of  Tiberias.  AVhether  he  wished  to  make  amends  for  old 
offences,  or  whether  he  hoped  to  obtain  fresh  benefits,  he 
represented  to  the  assembled  barons,  "  that  Baldwin  du 
Bourg  belonged  to  the  family  of  the  last  king  ;  that  his 
piety,  his  wisdom,  and  courage  were  known  to  the  entire 
East ;  and  that  no  country  on  that  side  or  beyond  the  sea 
could  offer  a  prince  miore  worthy  of  the  confidence  and  love 
of  the  Christians.  The  benedictions  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Edessa  pointed  him  out  to  the  choice  of  the  barons  and 
knights,  and  Pro\^dence  had  opportunely  sent  him  to  Jeru- 
salem to  console  the  Christian  people  for  the  loss  of  Grodfrey 
and  Baldwin."  This  discoui'se  united  all  the  suffrages  in 
favour  of  Baldwin  du  Bourg,  who  was  crowned  a  few  days 
after,  and  made  over  the  county  of  Edessa  to  Josselin  de 
Courtenay. 

Scarcely  was  BaldAAin  du  Bourg  seated  on  the  throne  of 
Jerusalem  than  he  was  obliged  to  fly  to  the  succour  of 
Antioch,  attacked  by  the  Saracens  of  Damascus  and  the 
Tmcomans  from  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates.  Boger  of 
Sicily,  son  of  llichard,  who  since  the  death  of  Tancred 
governed  Antioch  during  the  minority  of  the  son' of  Bohe- 
mond,  had  been  killed  in  a  bloody  battle.  Baldwin,  accom- 
panied by  the  count  of  Tripoli,  hastened  to  the  banks  of  the 
Orontes,  attacked  the  victorious  Mussulmans,  and  dispersed 
their  army.* 

After  this  victory  he  returned  to  Jerusalem,  when  he 
learnt  that  Josselin  de  Courtenay  had  been  made  prisoner 
by  the  Turks.  Baldwin  flew  to  the  defence  of  the  county 
of  Edessa,  which  was  threatened  \\-ith  an  invasion,  and  him- 
self fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Mussulmans. 

Old  chronicles  have  celebrated  the  intrepid  zeal  of  fifty 
Armenians,  who  swore  to  deliver  two  princes  so  much  be- 
loved by  their  subjects,  and  whose  captivity  spread  desola- 
tion among  the  Christians  of  the  East.  Their  eftbrts  broke 
the  chains  of  Josselin,  but  after  having  braved  a  thousand 
dangers  \Nithout  being  able  to  release  Baldwin  du  Boui'g, 

*  See,  for  an  account  of  this  disaster,  Kemaleddin  and  Tabari. 


mSTOET    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  297 

they  were  themselves  taken  by  the  infidels.  They  all  died 
amidst  tortures,  and  received  from  Heaven  alone,  add  the 
same  chronicles,  the  reward  of  their  generous  devotion. 

Josselin,  escaped  from  his  prison,  repaired  to  Jerusalem, 
where  he  deposited  in  the  chui^ch  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  the 
chains  which  he  had  borne  among  the  Turks,  and  entreated 
prompt  assistance  for  the  deliverance  of  Baldwin,  The 
mourning  kingdom  was  menaced  by  the  Saracens  of  Egypt, 
who,  seeking  to  talie  advantage  of  the  captivity  of  Baldwin, 
had  assembled  in  the  plains  of  Ascalon  for  the  purpose  of 
driving  the  Franks  from  Palestine.  In  this  pressing  danger 
the  Christians  of  Jerusalem  could  pay  attention  to  nothing 
but  the  defence  of  the  kingdom.  After  the  example  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Nineveh,  they  first  sought  to  mitigate  the 
anger  of  Heaven  by  penitence  and  prayer.  A  rigorous  fast 
was  commanded,  during  which  women  withheld  the  milk  of 
their  breasts  from  their  children  in  the  cradle,  and  the  flocks 
even  were  driven  to  a  distance  from  their  pastures  and  de- 
prived of  their  ordinary  nourishment.  War  was  proclaimed 
by  the  sound  of  the  great  bell  of  Jerusalem.  The  Christian 
army,  which  consisted  of  little  more  than  three  thousand 
combatants,  was  commanded  by  Eustache  Glrenier,  count  of 
Sidon,  named  regent  of  the  kingdom  in  the  absence  of  Bald- 
win. The  patriarch  of  the  holy  city  bore  the  true  cross  at 
the  head  of  the  army ;  he  was  followed,  says  Robert  of  the 
Mount,  by  Pontius,  abbot  of  Cluni,  carrying  the  lance  with 
which  the  side  of  the  Saviour  was  pierced,  and  by  the  bishop 
of  Bethlehem,  who  held  in  his  hands  a  vase,  in  which  the 
Christian  priests  boasted  of  having  preserved  the  milk  of 
the  Virgin  mother  of  Grod  !* 

The  Christians  met  the  army  of  the  Saracens  on  the  plains 
of  Ascalon.  The  battle  immediately  began,  and  the  Pranks 
were  at  once  surrounded  by  the  Mussulmans,  who  reckoned 
forty  thousand  men  beneath  their  standards.  The  defeat  of 
the  Christians  appeared  certain,  when  all  at  once,  says  the 

*  The  account  of  this  battle,  and  the  preparations  for  it,  are  taken  from 
Robert  of  the  Monnt  {Robortus  de  Monte,  Appendice  ad  Sigebertum). 
This  author  speaks  of  the  fast  the  troops  were  ordered  to  undergo,  as  had 
been  done  at  Nineveh  :  "  Universo  pecori  pabula  negabantur."  He  also 
speaks  of  the  milk  of  the  holy  Virgin,  carried  in  a  vase: — "  Episcopus 
Bethleemides  ferens  in  pyxide  lac:;  sanctte  Marise  virginis." 


298  nisTOET  OF  the  ceusades, 

liistorian  we  liave  just  now  quoted,  a  light  Kke  to  that  of  a 
thunderbolt  darted  tlirough  the  air,  and  fell  upon  the  army 
of  the  Mussuhnans.  This  light,  which  the  Christians  con- 
sidered as  a  miracle  from  Heaven,  became  the  signal  for  the 
rout  of  the  Saracens.  The  Mussulman  warriors,  still  more 
superstitious  than  the  Christians,  were  fascinated  by  a  sud- 
den terror,  and  no  longer  had  either  courage  or  strength  to 
defend  themselves.  Seven  thousand  of  them  fell  on  the 
field  of  battle,  and  five  thousand  perished,  swallowed  up  by 
the  waves  of  the  sea.  The  victorious  Christians  returned  to 
Jerusalem,  singing  the  praises  of  the  Grod  of  armies. 

The  Christian  knights  thenceforth  wept  vdth.  less  bitter- 
ness over  the  capti\-ity  of  a  king  without  whom  they  had 
been  able  to  conquer  the  army  of  the  Saracens ;  but  the 
army  of  the  Franks,  employed  in  the  defence  of  cities  and 
frontiers  constantlv  thi-eatened  bv  the  enemv,  could  not  leave 
the  kingdom  to  make  new  conquests  ;  and  the  warriors,  who 
were  detained  in  the  Christian  cities,  after  so  great  a  victory, 
were  deeply  afiiicted  at  their  inaction,  and  appeared  to  place 
all  their  hopes  in  succours  from  the  AYest.  It  was  just  at 
this  time  that  a  Venetian  fleet  arrived  ofi"  the  coast  of  S}Tia. 

The  Venetians,  who  for  several  centuries  enjoyed  the  com- 
merce of  the  East,  and  feared  to  break  their  profitable  rela- 
tions with  the  Mussuhnans  of  Asia,  had  taken  but  very  little 
interest  in  the  first  crusade,  or  in  the  events  that  had  fol- 
lowed it.  They  waited  the  issue  of  this  great  enterprise,  to 
take  a  part  and  associate  themselves  without  peril  with  the 
victories  of  the  Christians  ;  but  at  length,  jealous  of  the  ad- 
vantages that  the  Grenoese  and  the  Pisans  had  obtained  in 
Svi'ia.  they  wished  likewise  to  have  a  share  in  the  spoils  of 
the  Mussulmans,  and  prepared  a  formidable  expedition 
against  the  infidels.  Their  fleet,  whilst  crossing  the  Medi- 
terranean, fell  in  with  that  of  the  Grenoese,  which  was  re- 
tuminof  from  the  East :  thev  attacked  it  with  furv,  and 
forced  it  to  fly  in  great  disorder.  After  having  stained  the 
sea  with  the  blood  of  Christians,  the  Venetians  pursued  their 
course  towards  the  coasts  of  Palestine,  where  thev  met  the 
f.eet  of  the  Saracens,  just  issuing  from  the  ports  of  Egypt. 
A  violent  conflict  ensued,  in  which  aU  the  Egyptian  vessels 
were  dispersed  or  destroyed,  and  covered  the  waves  with 
their  wrecks. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    CKrSA.DES.  299 

"Whilst  tlie  Venetians  were  tlius  destroying  tlie  fleet  of 
the  Mussulmans,  an  army  sent  by  the  caliph  of  Cairo  was 
beaten  by  the  Christians  under  the  walls  of  Jaffa.  The  doge 
of  Venice,  who  commanded  the  Venetian  fleet,  entered  the 
port  of  Ptolemais,  and  was  conducted  in  triumph  to  Jerusa- 
lem. When  celebrating  the  double  victory,  they  resolved  to 
■profit  by  it,  by  following  it  up  by  an  important  expedition. 
In  a  council,  held  in  presence  of  the  regent  of  tlie  kingdom 
and  the  doge  of  Venice,  it  was  proposed  to  besiege  either 
the  city  of  Tyre  or  the  city  of  Ascalon.  As  the  opinions 
were  divided,  it  was  resolved  to  interrogate  God,  and  to  fol- 
low his  will.  Two  strips  of  parchment,  upon  which  had 
been  written  the  names  of  Ascalon  and  Tyre,  were  deposited 
upon  the  altar  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre.  In  the  siglit  of  a 
numerous  crowd  of  spectators,  a  young  orphan  advanced 
towards  the  altar,  took  one  of  the  strips,  and  the  chance  fell 
upon  the  city  of  Tyre. 

The  Venetians,  more  devoted  to  the  interests  of  their 
commerce  and  of  their  nation  than  to  those  of  a  Christian 
kingdom,  demanded,  before  beginning  the  siege  of  Tyre, 
that  they  should  enjoy  a  church,  a  street,  a  common  oven, 
and  a  national  tribunal  in  every  city  in  Palestine.  They 
further  demanded  other  privileges  and  the  possession  of  a 
third  of  the  conquered  city.  The  conquest  of  Tyre  appeared 
to  be  so  important,  that  the  regent,  the  chancellor  of  the 
kingdom,  and  the  great  vassals  of  the  crown  accepted  the 
conditions  of  the  Venetians  without  hesitation :  in  a  deed 
which  history  has  preserved,*  they  engaged  not  to  acknow- 
ledge Baldwin  du  Bourg  or  any  other  prince  who  would 
refuse  to  subscribe  to  it. 

When  they  had  thus,  by  a  treaty,  shared  the  city  they 
were  about  to  conquer,  they  began  their  preparations  for 
the  siege.  Towards  the  commencement  of  the  spring,  the 
Christian  army  set  out  from  Jerusalem,  and  the  Venetian 
fleet  sailed  from  the  port  of  Ptolemais.  The  historian  of 
the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem,  who  was  for  a  long  time  arch- 
bishop of  Tyre,  stops  here  to  describe  the  antique  wonders 
of  his  metropolis.  In  his  recital,  at  once  religious  and  pro- 
fane, he  invokes  by  turns  the  testimony  of  Isaiah  and  of 

*  This  act  is  reported  in  its  entirety  by  William  of  Tyre. 


300  HISTOET    OF    THE    CRTJSADES. 

A'irgii;  after  having  spoken  of  the  king,  Hyram,  and  the 
tomb  of  Origen,  he  does  not  disdain  to  celebrate  the 
memory  of  Cadmus,  and  the  country  of  Dido.  The  good 
archbishop  boasts  above  all  of  the  industry  and  the  com- 
merce of  Tyre ;  of  the  fertility  of  its  territory,  its  dyes  so 
celebrated  in  all  antiquity,  that  sand  which  is  changed  into 
transparent  vases,  and  those  sugar-canes  which,  from  that 
time,  were  souo^ht  for  bv  every  reHon  of  the  universe.  Tvre, 
in  the  time  of  Baldwin,  was  no  longer  that  sumptuous  city, 
whose  rich  merchants,  according  to  Isaiah,  were  princes ; 
but  it  was  yet  considered  as  the  most  populous  and  the  most 
commercial  of  all  the  cities  of  Sj^ia.  It  was  built  upon  a 
deliffhtfal  beach,  which  mountains  sheltered  from  the  blasts 
of  the  north  ;  it  had  two  large  moles,  which,  like  two  arms, 
stretched  out  into  the  waves,  to  form  a  port  to  which  no 
tempest  could  find  access.  Tyre,  which  had  kept  the  victo- 
rious Alexander  seven  months  and  a  half  before  its  walls, 
was  defended  on  one  side  by  a  stormy  sea  and  steep  rocks, 
and  on  the  other  by  a  triple  wall  surmounted  by  high 
towers. 

The  doge  of  A^enice,  with  his  fleet,  entered  the  port  and 
closed  up  all  issue  on  the  side  of  the  sea.  The  patriarch  of 
Jerusalem,  the  regent  of  the  kingdom,  and  Pontius,  count 
of  Tripoli,  commanded  the  army  by  land.  In  the  early  days 
of  the  siege,  the  Christians  and  the  Mussulmans  fought  with 
obstinate  ardour,  and  with  equal  success ;  but  the  divisions 
among  the  infidels  soon  came  in  to  second  the  efforts  of  the 
Franks.  The  caliph  of  Egypt  had  yielded  half  of  the  place 
to  the  sultan  of  Damascus,  to  induce  him  to  defend  it 
against  the  Christians.  The  Turks  and  the  Eg;s^tians  were 
divided  among  themselves,  and  would  not  fight  together. 
The  Eranks  profited  by  these  divisions,  and  every  day  gained 
great  advantages.  After  a  siege  of  some  months,  the  walla 
crumbled  away  before  the  machines  of  the  Christians ;  pro- 
\dsions  began  to  be  short  in  the  citv,  and  the  infidels  were 
ready  to  capitidate,  when  discord  arose  to  disunite  the 
Christians  in  their  turn,  and  was  on  the  point  of  rendering 
useless  the  prodigies  of  valour,  and  the  labours  of  the  long 
siege. 

The  land  army  complained  aloud  of  being  obliged  to  sup- 
port alone,  both  fighting  and  fatigue ;  the  knights  and  their 


niSTOJlT    OF    THE    CP.rSADES.  801 

soldiers  tlireatened  to  remain  as  motionless  under  their  tents. 


*as  the  A^enetians  did  in  their  ships.  To  prevent  the  effect 
of  their  complaints,  the  doge  of  Venice  came  into  the  camp 
of  the  Christians,  with  his  sailors  armed  with  their  oars,  and 
declared  that  he  was  ready  to  mount  the  breach.  From  that 
time  a  generous  emulation  animated  equally  the  zeal  and 
courao;e  of  the  land  and  sea  forces.  The  Mussulmans,  beinfi: 
without  hope  of  succonr,  after  a  siege  of  five  months  and  a 
half,  were  oblis^ed  to  surrender.  The  standards  of  the  kinir 
of  .Jerusalem  and  the  doge  of  Venice  waved  over  the  walls  of 
Tyre ;  the  Christians  made  their  triumphal  entry  into  the 
city,  whilst  the  inhabitants,  according  to  the  terms  of  the 
capitulation,  Avent  out  with  their  wives  and  children.* 

The  day  on  which  they  received  at  Jerusalem  the  news  of 
the  conquest  of  Tyre,  was  a  festival  for  the  population  of  the 
holy  city.  To  the  sound  of  the  bells  the  Te  JDeum  was  sung 
on  bended  knees ;  Hags  were  hoisted  on  the  towers  and  the 
ramparts  of  the  city ;  branches  of  olive,  and  garlands  of 
flowers  were  suspended  in  the  streets  and  public  places,  and 
rich  stuffs  were  hung  upon  the  outsides  of  the  houses,  and 
upon  the  doors  of  the  churches.  Old  men  reminded  their 
neighboiu-s  of  the  splendour  of  the  kingdom  of  Judah,  and 
young  Airgins  repeated  in  chorus  the  psalms  in  which  the 
prophets  had  celebrated  the  city  of  T>Te. 

The  doge  of  Venice,  on  his  return  to  the  holy  city,  was 
saluted  by  the  acclamations  of  the  people  and  the  clergy. 
The  barons  and  the  principal  inhabitants  did  all  in  their 
power  to  detain  him  in  Palestine  ;  they  even  went  so  far  as 
to  offer  him  the  crown  of  Baldwin  ;  some  believing  that  that 

*  Albert  d'Aix  finishes  his  history  in  the  first  year  of  the  reign  of 
Baldwin  II.,  and  Foulcher  de  Chartres  terminates  his  after  the  siege  of 
Tyre.  We  may  consult  for  this  reign  many  passages  of  Baroniu!^,  Robert 
of  the  Mount,  Sanuti,  and  particularly  William  of  Tyre  and  Bernardus 
Thesaurius.  We  are  in  possession  of  the  second  part  of  a  History  of 
Jerusalem,  the  anonymous  author  of  which  speaks  of  the  reigns  of  the 
two  first  Baldwins. 

.  It  will  be  said  perhaps  that  I  have  borrowed  from  these  different  his- 
torians too  many  details ;  but  I  could  not  resist  the  desire  I  had  to  im- 
part to  my  read'ers  things  that  have  never  hitherto  been  related  in  the 
French  language.  It  is  surprising  that,  notwithstanding  Jerusalem  was 
almost  always  governed  and  defended  by  the  Franks,  no  writer  of  our 
nation  has  spoken  of  it. 


302  niSTOET   OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

prince  had  died  among  the  infidels,  others  only  recognising 
a  kins:  when  at  the  head  of  an  army,  or  on  the  field  of 
battle.  The  doge  refused  the  crown  they  oflered  him ;  and, 
satisfied  with  the  title  of  prince  of  Jerusalem,  sailed  with  his 
victorious  fleet  back  to  Italy. 

AVhilst  they  were  oflerinor  the  throne  of  Jerusalem  to  q, 
foreign  prince,  the  captivity  of  Baldwin  du  Bourg  was  draw- 
ing to  an  end.  The  emir  Balac,*  who  held  him  prisoner, 
after  ha^'iug  conquered  in  a  battle  ten  thousand  Christians 
commanded  by  Josselin,  besieged  the  citadel  of  a  Mussulman 
city  of  S\Tia,  and  was  preparing  to  succour  the  city  of  Tyre, 
when  he  was  wounded  by  a  javelin,  and  died  regretted  by 
the  most  ardent  disciples  of  Mahomet.  Baldwin  was  then 
enabled  to  purchase  his  liberty,  and,  after  a  captivity  of 
eighteen  months,  appeared  once  again  among  the  Christians. 
The  king  of  Jerusalem  had  promised  the  Saracens  a  consi- 
derable sum  as  his  ransom  ;  but  it  was  much  more  easy  for 
him  to  fight  and  conquer  his  enemies  than  to  fulfil  such  a 
promise.  The  Mussulmans,  besides,  by  ill-treating  the 
hostages  he  had  left  with  them,t  furnished  him  with  a  pre- 
text to  attack  them.  Allien  the  infidels  demanded  of  him 
tlie  stipulated  price  of  his  liberty,  he  only  replied  by  gaining 
victories  over  them.  The  Christian  knights,  who  seemed  to 
have  forgotten  him,  now  that  they  saw  him  once  again  in 
arms,  returned  thanks  to  Heaven  for  his  deliverance,  and 
came  in  troops  to  range  themselves  under  his  baimers,  and 
recognised  with  joy  the  authority  of  a  prince  who  appeared 
only  to  have  issued  from  his  prison  to  lead  them  to  new 
combats. 

The  Christian  states  at  that  period  numbered  as  enemies 
the  caliphs  of  Bagdad  and  Damascus,  the  emirs  of  Mossoul 
and  Aleppo,  and  the  descendants  of  Ortoc,  who  were  mas- 
ters of  several  places  on  the  Euphrates. ;]:  The  Egyptians 
were  weakened  by  their  numerous  defeats,  and  of  all  their 
ancient  conquests  on  the  coasts  of  S\Tia,  only  retained  the 

*  The  emir  Balac  was  a  prince  of  the  family  of  Ortoc,  who  possessed 
many  places  on  the  Euphrates,  reigned  in  Aleppo  and  ^lesopotamia,  and 
could  set  on  toot  innumerable  armies  of  Turcomans. 

t  Edma,  the  daughter  of  Baldwin,  still  a  child,  was  violated  by  the 
Mussulmans,  to  whom  her  father  had  given  her  as  an  hostage. 

%  See,  as  well  for  the  incursion  of  the  Turks  as  of  those  of  the  Chris- 
tians, Kemaleddin,  Tabari,  and  Aboul-Feda. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  303 

city  of  Ascalon.  But  the  garrison  of  this  place,  formed  of 
the  wrecks  of  several  conquered  armies,  still  threatened  the 
territories  of  the  Christians.  Although  the  Egyptians  had 
lost  the  cities  of  Tyre,  Tripoli,  and  Ptolemais,  they  still  con- 
tinued masters  at  sea,  and  their  fleets  cruised  Mathout  obsta- 
cle along  the  coasts  of  Syria,  when  the  maritime  nations  of 
Europe  did  not  happen  to  send  succour  to  the  Franks  esta- 
blished in  Palestine. 

The  Turks,  accustomed  to  the  military  and  pastoral  life, 
did  not  aspire  to  the  empire  of  the  seas,  but  they  never  left 
the  Christians  at  rest.  They  made  themselves  dreaded,  not 
so  much  by  their  great  armies,  which  were  frequently  no- 
thmg  but  confused  and  undisciplined  multitudes,  but  by 
their  continual,  harassing  incursions.  Docile  and  patient, 
they  endmed  hunger,  thirst,  and  fatigue,  better  than  they 
would  face  an  enemy.  Their  knowledge  of  the  country, 
their  being  accustomed  to  the  climate,  and  the  intelligence 
they  kept  up  with  the  inhabitants,  gave  them,  in  all  their 
warlike  expeditions,  a  decided  advantage  over  the  Christians. 
Their  soldiers  surpassed  the  Franks  in  the  arts  of  shooting 
with  the  bow,  or  hurling  a  javelin,  as  well  as  in  horseman- 
ship ;  and  their  leaders  were  practised,  and  excelled  in  all 
the  stratagems  of  war.  Their  tactics  consisted  in  wearing 
out  their  enemies,  in  preparing  ambushes  for  them,  or  in 
drawing  them  into  difiicult  positions,  where  they  might 
triumph  without  fighting.  The  endless  discord  which  pre- 
vailed among  the  Mussulman  princes  of  Syria,  and  the  revo- 
lutions which  daily  threatened  their  power,  prevented  them 
from  following  up,  for  any  length  of  time,  the  same  plan  of 
defence  or  attack  ;  but  when  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  transient 
tranquillity,  sometimes  excited  by  a  thirst  for  plunder,  or 
sometimes  animated  by  the  prayers  and  the  counsels  of  the 
caliph  of  Bagdad,  they  would  burst  like  a  sudden  and  unex- 
pected storm  over  the  territories  of  Antioch,  Edessa,  Tripoli, 
or  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem.  If  the  Mussulmans  expe- 
rienced a  defeat,  they  retired  with  the  hope  of  finding  a 
more  favourable  opportunity ;  if  they  were  conquerors,  they 
ravaged  the  cities  and  the  plains,  and  returned  to  their  coun- 
try, loaded  with  booty,  singing  these  words :  "  Tlie  Koran 
o'ejoices,  and  the  Gospel  is  in  tears.'''' 

The  hopes  of  booty  every  year  attracted  new  hordes  and 


304  HISTOET   OF   THE    CErSADES. 

tribes,  Vnieh  poured  do^vu  from  Moimt  Caucasus,  Mount 
Taurus,  from  Koracan  aud  tlie  banks  of  the  Tio^ris.  These 
tribes,  for  the  most  part  ^ild  and  barbarous,  mingled  among 
the  Mussulmans  of  Syria  and  Mesopotamia,  and  replaced  in 
armies  and  cities  the  hosts  which  war  had  swept  awar. 
Among  the  tribes  which  had  thus  estabhshed  themselves 
in  Svria,  history'  must  not  forget  that  of  the  assassins  or 
Ismaelians,  whose  sect  had  sprung  up,  towards  the  com- 
mencement of  the  eleventh  century,  in  the  mountains  of 
Persia.  A  short  time  before  the  first  crusade,  they  took 
possession  of  a  part  of  Libanus,  and  founded  a  colony  be- 
tween Tripoli  and  Tortosa,  which  colony  was  governed  by  a 
chief  whom  the  Franks  called — tJie  Old  ALan,  or  the  Lord  of 
the  Mountain.  The  chief  of  the  Ismaelians  only  reigned 
over  about  twenty  castles  or  to^^iis,  and  scarcely  more  than 
sixty  thousand  subjects  :  but  he  had  converted  despotism 
into  a  species  of  worship,  and  his  autliority  was  without 
bounds.  His  subjects  considered  that  he  alone  was  the  de- 
positaiy  of  the  laws  of  Mahomet,  and  that  aR  who  opposed 
his  will  merited  death.  The  Old  Man  of  the  Mountains, 
according  to  the  belief  of  the  Ismaelians.  coidd  distribute,  at 
his  pleasure,  the  dehghts  of  Paradise  to  his  servants  ;  that  he 
who  died  in  an  act  of  obedience  to  his  chief,  ascended  to 
heaven,  whither  the  prophet  of  Mecca  welcomed  him,  whilst 
he  who  died  in  his  bed  went  tlu-ough  long  probationary  pains 
in  the  next  world. 

The  Ismaelians  were  divided  into  three  classes  :  the  peo- 
ple, the  soldiers,  and  the  guards.  The  people  lived  by  the 
cultivation  of  the  lands  and  by  commerce  ;  they  were  docile, 
laborious,  sober,  and  patient :  nothing  could  exceed  the  skill, 
strength,  and  courage  of  the  soldiers,  whose  qualities  were 
particularly  valued  in  the  defence  or  sieges  of  cities.  The 
greater  part  of  the  Mussulman  princes  were  very  desirous 
of  having  them  in  their  pay. 

The  most  distinguished  class  was  that  of  the  guards  or 
feda'ls.  Xothing  was  neglected  in  their  education.  Prom 
their  infancy  their  bodies  were  strengthened  by  constant 
and  violent  exercises,  and  their  minds  were  cultivated  by  the 
study  of  the  arts.  They  were  taught  the  languages  of  Asia 
and  Europe,  in  order  that  they  might  be  sent  into  those 
countries  to  execute  the  orders  of  their  master.     All  sorts 


HISTOllY    or   THE    CRUSADES.  305 

of  means  were  employed  to  inflame  their  imaginations  and 
heighten  their  courage ;  during  their  sleep,  which  was  pro- 
voked by  intoxicating  drinks,  they  wore  transported  into 
delicious  gardens,  and  awoke  surrounded  by  the  seductions 
of  voluptuousness.  It  was  there  that  the  Old  Man  of  the 
Mountains,  by  showing  them  the  image  of  the  joys  of  Para- 
dise, inspired  them  with  a  blind  obedience.  In  the  midst  of 
illusions  which  fascinated  them,  their  n^aster  could  order 
them  to  cast  themselves  from  the  height  of  a  tower,  to  pre- 
cipitate themselves  into  flames,  or  to  pierce  themselves  with 
mortal  wounds.  When  the  Old  Man  of  the  Mountains  had 
pointed  out  to  them  any  one  he  wished  to  punish,  they  went, 
armed  with  a  poniard,  indifterently,  to  seek  him  in  palaces  or 
camps,  and  were  impeded  by  neither  obstacles  nor  dangers. 
Princes  often  intrusted  the  charge  of  their  revenge  to  the 
chief  of  the  Ismaelians,  and  looked  to  him  for  the  death  of 
their  rivals  or  enemies.  Powerful  monarchs  were  his  tribu- 
taries. The  fears  which  he  inspired,  and  the  murders  com- 
mitted by  his  orders,  heaped  up  his  treasures.  Surrounded 
by  his  intrepid  soldiery,  he  sent  death  into  distant  regions ; 
the  terror  of  his  name  was  spread  everywhere,  whilst  he 
himself  had  nothing  to  fear  from  his  enemies. 

*  The  Ismaelians,  as  implacable  sectarians,  entertained  a 
profound  aversion  for  the  Turks  of  Syria.  Many  of  them 
were  in  the  pay  of  the  emirs  and  the  sultans  of  that  na- 
tion ;  but  they  sold  their  services  at  a  very  high  price,  and 
often  took  an  active  part  in  the  bloody  revolutions  which 
precipitated  from  thrones  the  Mussulman  dynasties  of  the 
East.  They  had  less  hatred  for  the  Christians,  because  the 
latter  fought  against  the  Turks  ;  nay,  sometimes  they  became 
useful  auxiliaries  to  the  Pranks.  When  Baldwin  du  Bourg 
was  liberated,  they  proposed  to  deliver  up  Damascus  to  him, 
a  great  number  of  their  Avarriors  being  in  that  city  ;  but  the 
plot  being  discovered,  they  miscarried  in  their  enterprise, 
and  six  thousand  Ismaelians  were  slaughtered  by  the 
Mussulmans.* 

*  Our  learned  Orientalists  have  furnished  us  with  some  very  useful 
and  profound  works  on  the  Ismaehans  ;  at  their  head  is  M.  de  Sacy,  who 
has  made  us  acquainted  with  the  doctrine  and  many  of  the  usages  of  this 
singular  people.  M.  Jourdain  has  on  this  subject  supplied  us  with  a  very 
interesting  memoir. 


306  niSTOKT    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

The  Old  Man  of  tlie  Mountaius  commanded  the  death  of 
the  emir  of  Mossoul,  who  had  defended  the  city  of  Damas- 
cus  against  the  Christians.  The  murder  of  the  Mussulman 
emir  threw  S^-ria  into  a  state  of  excitement  and  trouble : 
but  from  the  bosom  of  this  disorder  arose  a  new  and  for- 
midable power.  Zengui,  son  of  Aksancar,  one  of  the  most 
skilful  captains  of  his  age,  obtained  the  principality  of 
Mossoul,  got  possession  of  Emessa  and  Aleppo,  with  several 
other  cities  of  Svria,  and  founded  the  dynasty  of  the  Ata- 
becks,  or  governors  of  the  prince,  which  was  destined  to 
dominate  oyer  the  East,  and  render  itself  formidable  to  the 
Christians.* 

Whilst  this  new  power  was  rising  in  S}Tia,  the  Christian 
states  of  the  East  were  at  their  highest  point  of  prosperity. 
The  county  of  Edessa,  which  contained  a  great  portion  of 
the  rich  provinces  of  Mesopotamia,  had  all  the  Armenian 
princes  as  its  allies  and  auxiliaries.  Several  cities  of  Coele- 
syria,  Cilicia,  and  Lower  Armenia  constituted  the  principality 
of  Antioch,  the  most  extensive  and  the  most  flourishing  of 
the  Christian  provinces. 

The  coimty  of  Tripoli  comprised  several  places  situated 
on  the  Sea  of  Phoenicia,  from  Margath  to  the  river  Adonis. 
This  river,  celebrated  in  both  sacred  and  profane  history, 
bounded  on  the  north  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem,  which, 
towards  the  south,  extended  on  the  sea-coast  as  far  as  the 
gates  of  Ascalon,  and  towards  the  east,  to  the  deserts  of 
^Vrabia. 

These  four  states  formed  a  redoubtable  confederacy. 
Europe  beheld  with  pride  these  Christian  colonies,  which 
had  cost  her  so  much  blood ;  she  was  afflicted  at  their  re- 
verses, and  rejoiced  at  their  progress.  The  safety  of  Chris- 
tianity appeared  identified  with  their  preservation.  The 
bravest  of  the  Christians  were  alwavs  ready  to  devote 
themselves  for  the  heritage  of  Cln-ist ;  religion  offered  no 
recompense  equal  to  that  promised  to  their  valour,  and 
charit)'  itself  became  warlike. 

Erom  the  bosom  of  an  hospital  consecrated  to  the  service 
of  pilgi-ims  and  the  poor,  issued  heroes  armed  against  the 

•  See,  for  the  origin  and  the  reign  of  Zengui,  the  History  of  the 
Atabecks,  by  Ben  Latir. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    CEIJSADES.  307 

infidels, — the  humanity  and  the  bravery  of  the  knights  cf 
St.  John*  were  equally  conspicuous.  Whilst  some  grew  old 
in  the  offices  of  hospitality,  others  went  forth  to  combat 
with  the  enemies  of  their  faith.  After  the  example  of  these 
pious  knights,  several  men  of  gentle  birth  met  near  the  place 
where  the  temple  of  Solomon  had  stood,  and  took  an  oath  to 
protect  and  defend  the  pilgrims  who  repaired  to  Jerusalem. 
Their  union  gave  birth  to  the  order  of  the  Templars,  which, 
from  its  origin,  was  approved  of  by  a  council,  and  owed  its 
statutes  to  St.  Bernard. 

These  two  orders  were  governed  by  the  same  principle 
that  had  given  birth  to  the  crusade,  the  union  of  the  military 
spirit  with  the  religious  spirit.  E-etired  from  the  world, 
they  had  no  other  country  but  Jerusalem,  no  other  family 
but  that  of  Jesus  Christ.  AYealth,  evils,  and  dangers  were 
all  in  common  amongst  them ;  one  will,  one  spirit,  directed 
all  their  actions  and  aR  their  thoughts ;  all  were  imited  in 
one  house,  which  appeared  to  be  inhabited  but  by  one  man. 
They  lived  in  great  austerity,  and  the  severer  their  discipline 
became,  the  stronger  appeared  the  bonds  by  which  it  en- 
chained their  hearts  and  their  wills.  Arms  formed  their 
only  decoration ;  precious  ornaments  were  never  seen  in 
their  houses  or  churches ;  but  lances,  bucklers,  swords,  and 
standards  taken  from  the  infidels  abounded.  At  the  cry  of 
battle,  says  St.  Bernard,t  they  armed  themselves  with  faith 
within  and  with  steel  without ;  they  feared  neither  the 
number  nor  the  fury  of  the  barbarians,  they  were  proud  to 
conquer,  happy  to  die  for  Jesus  Christ,  and  believed  that 
every  victory  came  from  Grod. 

^Religion  had  sanctified  the  perils  and  the  violences  of  war. 
Every  monastery  of  Palestine  was  a  fortress,  in  which  the 
din  of  arms  was  mingled  with  the  voice  of  prayer.  Humble 
cenobites  sought  glory  in  fight ;  the  canons,  instituted  by 
Grodfrey  to  pray  near  the  holy  tomb,  after  the  example  of 

*  The  history  of  the  knights  of  St.  John  has  been  written  in  Italian  by 
Bosio,  and  translated  into  French  by  Boyssat.  The  history  since  written 
by  the  Abbe  de  Vertot  has  caused  all  that  preceded  it  to  be  forgotten. 
The  Templars,  after  their  tragical  end,  had  no  historian  of  their  exploits 
in  the  Holy  Land  ;  but  they  have  in  our  days  found  a  very  eloquent  one  in 
M.  Raynouard. 

f  See  Saint  Bernard,  Exhortatio  ad  Milites  Templi. 

Vol.  I.— 15 


308  HISTORY    or    THE    CRUSADES. 

the  Hospitallers  and  the  Templars,  had  clothed  themselves 
with  the  casque  and  the  cuirass,  and,  under  the  name  of  the 
Elnights  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  distinguished  themselves 
amongst  the  soldiers  of  Christ. 

The  glory  of  these  military  orders  ^Yas  soon  spread 
throughout  the  Christian  world.  Their  renown  penetrated 
even  to  the  isles  and  the  most  remote  nations  of  the  West. 
All  who  had  sins  to  expiate  hastened  to  the  holy  city  to 
share  the  labours  of  the  Christian  warriors.  Crowds  of  men, 
who  had  devastated  their  own  country,  came  to  defend  the 
kingdom  of  Jerusalem,  and  take  part  in  the  perils  of  the 
most  firm  defenders  of  the  faith. 

There  was  not  an  illustrious  family  in  Europe  which  did 
not  send  at  least  one  knight  to  the  military  orders  of  Pales- 
tine. Princes  even  enrolled  themselves  in  this  holy  militia, 
and  laid  aside  the  insignia  of  their  dignity  to  assume  the 
red  coat  of  arms  of  the  Hospitallers,  or  the  white  mantle  of 
the  knights  of  the  Temple.  In  aU  the  nations  of  the  "West 
castles  and  cities  were  bestowed  upon  them,  which  ofiered 
an  asylum  and  succour  to  pilgrmis,  and  became  auxiliaries  to 
the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem.  As  monks,  as  soldiers  of  Christ, 
they  were  remembered  in  every  will,  and  not  unfrequently 
became  the  heirs  of  monarchs  and  princes. 

The  knights  of  St.  John  and  of  the  Temple  for  a  length 
of  time  were  deserving  of  the  greatest  praises ;  more  happy 
and  more  worthy  of  the  benedictions  of  posterity  would 
they  have  been,  if,  in  the  end,  they  had  not  allowed  them- 
selves to  be  corrupted  by  their  success  and  their  wealth ; 
and  if  they  had  not  frequently  disturbed  the  welfare  of  the 
state  of  which  their  bravery  was  the  support !  These  two 
orders  were  like  a  crusade  that  was  unceasingly  renewed, 
and  preserved  emulation  in  the  Christian  armies. 

The  military  customs  and  manners  of  the  Franks  who 
were  then  engaged  in  Palestine,  present  an  object  worthy  of 
fixing  the  attention  of  the  historian  and  the  philosopher, 
and  may  serve  to  explain  the  rapid  rise  and  the  following 
decline  of  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem.  The  spirit  of  ho- 
nour which  animated  the  warriors,  and  permitted  them 
not  to  fly,  even  in  an  unequal  fight,  was  the  most  active 
principle"  of  their  bravery,  and  with  them  took  the  place  of 
discipline.     To  abandon  a  companion  in  danger,  or  to  retire 


IIISTOBT    OF    THE    CSIJSADES.  309 

before  an  enemy,  was  an  action  infamous  in  the  sight  of  Grod 
or  man.  In  battle,  their  close  ranks,  their  lofty  stature, 
their  war-horses,  like  themselves  covered  with  steel,  over- 
turned, dispersed,  or  bore  down  the  numerous  battalions  of 
the  Saracens.  In  spite  of  the  weight  of  their  armour, 
nothing  could  exceed  the  rapidity  with  which  they  passed  to 
places  the  most  distant.  They  were  to  be  seen  fighting 
almost  at  the  same  time  in  Egypt,  on  the  Euphrates,  and  on 
the  Orontes ;  and  only  left  these  their  customary  theatres 
of  victory  to  threaten  the  principaHty  of  Damascus,  or  some 
city  of  Arabia.  In  the  midst  of  their  exploits  they  recog- 
nised no  other  law  but  victory,  abandoned  and  rejoined  at 
pleasure  the  standards  which  led  them  to  the  enemy,  and 
required  nothing  of  their  chief  but  the  example  of  bravery. 

As  their  mihtia  had  under  its  colours  warriors  of  divers 
nations,  the  opposition  of  characters,  the  difiJerence  of  man- 
ners and  language  kept  alive  amongst  them  a  generous 
emulation ;  but  sometimes,  likewise,  gave  birth  to  discord. 
Very  frequently  chance,  or  some  unexpected  cu-cumstance, 
decided  an  enterprise  or  the  fate  of  a  campaign.  When  the 
Christian  knights  believed  themselves  in  a  condition  to  fight 
an  enemy,  they  went  to  seek  him,  without  taking  the  least 
pains  to  conceal  their  march ;  confidence  in  their  strength, 
in  their  arms,  and,  above  aU,  in  the  protection  of  Heaven, 
made  them  neglect  the  stratagems  and  the  artifices  of  war, 
and  even  the  precautions  most  necessary  to  the  safety  of  an 
army.  Prudence  in  their  chiefs  frequently  appeared  to 
them  an  evidence  of  timidity  or  weakness,  and  many  of 
their  princes  paid  with  their  lives  or  their  liberty  for  the 
vain  glory  of  encountering  useless  perils  in  the  Christian 
cause. 

The  Pranks  of  Palestine  saw  scarcely  any  dangers  or 
enemies  except  such  as  met  them  in  the  field  of  battle. 
Several  important  enterprises,  which  fortune  alone  seemed 
to  direct,  were  necessary  to  assure  the  safety  and  the 
prosperity  of  the  Christian  states  in  Asia.  The  first  of 
these  enterprises  was  to  lower  the  power  of  the  caliphs  of 
Egypt ;  the  second,  to  conquer  and  preserve  the  maritime 
cities  of  Syria,  in  order  to  receive  fleets  and  succour  from 
the  West ;  the  third  was  to  defend  the  frontiers,  and  oppose 
on  aU  sides  a  barrier  against  the  Tui'ks  and  Saracens.    Each 


310  niSTOHY    OF    THE    CErSADE3. 

of  these  great  interests,  or  rather  all  of  these  interests  united, 
constantly  occupied  the  Franks  established  in  Asia,  without 
their  having  any  other  policy  but  that  of  circumstances,  and 
without  their  employing,  in  order  to  succeed,  any  other 
means  but  their  swords.  It  is  in  this  view  we  must  admire 
their  efforts,  and  find  the  bravery,  which  supplied  the  place 
of  everything,  wonderful. 

Among  the  illustrious  pilgrims  who  at  this  time  repaired 
to  Palestine,  and  took  part  in  the  labours  of  the  Christian 
knights,  histor}'  ought  not  to  forget  Foulque,  count  of 
Anjou.  He  was  the  son  of  Foulque  le  Eechin  and  Ber- 
trade  de  Montfort,  who  became  the  wife  of  Philip  I.,  and 
for  whose  sake  the  king  of  Prance  had  braved  all  the 
thunders  of  the  Church.  Poulque  of  Anjou  could  not  be 
consoled  for  the  death  of  his  wife  Eremberge,  daughter  of 
Elie,  count  of  Maine.  His  grief  led  him  into  Palestine, 
where  he  maintained  during  a  year  a  hundred  men-at-arms, 
whom  he  led  to  battle.  He  united  piety  with  valour,  and 
attracted  admiration  by  displacing  all  the  qualities  of  a  good 
prince.  Baldwin,  who  had  no  male  offspring,  oflfered  him 
his  daughter  Melisende  in  marriage,  and  promised  to  have 
him  nominated  his  successor.  Poulque  accepted  the  pro- 
position with  joy,  and  became  son-in-law  to  the  king  of 
Jerusalem. 

Prom  that  time  the  two  princes  gave  all  their  attention 
to  promote  the  prosperity  of  the  kingdom  and  to  defend  it 
against  the  Saracens.  Their  union  served  as  a  model  to 
Christian  princes,  and  lasted  till  the  death  of  Baldwin,  who, 
seeing  his  last  hour  approach,  ordered  himself  to  be  carried 
to  the  spot  where  Christ  had  risen  again,  and  died  in  the 
arms  of  his  daughter  and  his  son-in-law,  to  whom,  with  his 
latest  breath,  he  recommended  the  glory  of  the  Christians 
of  the  East. 

Baldwin  had  a  right  mind,  a  lofty  spirit,  and  unalterable 
mildness.  Eehgion  presided  over  his  least  actions  and 
inspired  all  his  thoughts ;  but  he  perhaps  had  more  devotion 
than  was  suited  to  a  prince  or  a  warrior.  He  was  constantly 
seen  prostrated  on  the  earth,  and,  if  we  may  believe  Wilham 
of  Tyre,  his  hands  and  knees  were  hardened  by  practices  of 
piety.  He  passed  eighteen  years  on  the  throne  of  Edessa, 
and  twelve  on  that  of  Jerusalem;  he  was  made  prisoner 


HISTORY   or   THE    CRUSADES.  311 

twice,  and  remained  seven  years  in  the  cTiains  of  the  infidels. 
He  had  neither  the  faults  nor  the  high  qualities  of  his  pre- 
decessor. His  reign  was  rendered  illustrious  by  conquests 
and  victories  in  which  he  bore  no  part ;  but  he  was  not  the 
less  regretted  by  the  Christians,  who  loved  to  contemplate 
in  him  the  last  of  the  companions  of  Godfrey. 

Under  his  reign  the  public  manners  began  to  decline :  by 
his  directions  a  council  was  assembled  at  Naplouse  to  check 
licentiousness,  and  punish  offenders  against  order  and  mo- 
rality. But  the  decrees  of  this  council,*  deposited  in  the 
churches,  only  served  to  prove  the  existence  of  disorders 
among  the  Christians,  and  did  not,  in  any  way,  stop  the  pro- 
gress of  corruption,  which  rapidly  increased  under  the  follow- 
ing reigns.  Baldwin  was  more  happy  in  the  measures  which 
he  undertook  to  increase  the  number  of  his  subjects  and  enrich 
his  capital.  An  edict  suppressed  all  duties  upon  grain  and 
vegetables  brought  into  the  holy  city  by  the  Syrians.  Bald- 
win, by  this  means,  improved  the  trade  and  popiilation  of  Jeru- 
salem, and  revived  agriculture  in  the  neighbouring  provinces. 

Foulque,  count  of  Anjou,  was  crowned  king  of  Jerusalem 
after  the  death  of  Baldwin.  At  his  accession  to  the  throne, 
discord  disturbed  the  Christian  states,  and  even  threatened 
with  speedy  ruin  the  principality  of  Antioch.  The  son  of 
Bohemond,  who  had  recently  assumed  the  reins  of  govern- 
ment, had  been  killed  in  a  battle  against  the  Turks  of  Asia 
Minor,  and  a  daughter,  whom  he  had  had  by  Alise,  sister  of 
Melisende,  was  called  to  the  inheritance  of  her  father's 
throne ;  but  the  weakness  of  her  sex  and  age  did  not  permit 
her  to  make  good  her  claim.  AHse,  her  mother,  wished  to 
get  possession  of  the  royal  seat,  and  in  the  prosecution  of 
her  projects  did  not  scruple  to  avail  herself  of  the  aid 
of  the  Saracens.  Another  candidate  appeared  in  E-oger, 
king  of  Sicily,  who,  as  a  member  of  the  family  of  Bohemond 
and  Tancred,  had  pretensions  to  the  principality  of  Antioch. 
The  people,  the  clergy,  and  the  nobility  were  divided  into 
several  factions. 

*  We  will  relate  in  full  the  decrees  of  the  council  of  Naplouse,  which 
form  a  precious  monument  of  the  history  of  these  distant  times  ;  but  the 
greater  part  of  the  crimes  and  offences  against  which  the  fathers  of  this 
council  raised  their  voices,  do  not.  permit  us  to  give  these  statutes  in 
French  or  English,  or  present  the  most  curious  details  of  them. 


312  niSTOET  or  the  ceusades. 

The  king  of  Jerusalem,  as  protector  of  the  confederation 
of  the  Franks  in  Asia,  determined  to  re-establish  order,  and 
took  the  road  to  Antioch  Tvith  his  barons  and  the  knights  of 
the  Temple  and  St.  John.  The  count  of  Tripoli,  who  had 
embraced  the  party  of  Alise,  undertook  to  stop  the  king  of 
Jerusalem  on  his  passage.  The  powers  of  these  two  princes 
met ;  a  battle  ensued,  and  the  plains  of  Phoenicia  were 
stained  ^vith  the  blood  of  Christians  shed  in  unnatural  strife. 
Foulque  of  Anjou,  after  having  routed  the  troops  of  the 
count  of  Tripoli,  gained  the  banks  of  the  Orontes,  silenced 
the  contending  factions,  and  re-estabhshed,  peace.  To  per- 
fect his  work,  he  resolved  to  bestow  the  daughter  of  Bohe- 
mond  on  a  husband  able  to  defend  her  rights,  who  would 
merit  the  confidence  of  the  Christian  warriors.  S}Tia  pre- 
senting to  him  no  prince  or  knight  worthy  of  his  choice,  he 
turned  his  eyes  towards  the  princes  of  Europe,  and  nominated 
Eavmond  of  Poictiers  governor  of  Antioch,  as  Baldwin  II. 
had  chosen  him  himself  governor  of  Jerusalem.  Thus 
Europe,  which  had  found  defenders  for  the  Christian  states 
of  Asia,  supplied  them  also  with  princes  and  kings.  Eay- 
mond  of  Poictiers,  brother  of  TTilliam,  duke  of  Aquitaine, 
left  France  with  the  scrip  and  staff  of  a  pilgrim,  and  came 
into  Svria  to  espouse  the  daughter  of  Baldwin,  and  reign 
■u-ith  her  on  the  banks  of  the  Orontes. 

The  troubles  of  Antioch  had  re-sdved  the  pretensions  of 
the  emperors  of  Constantinople.  John  Comnenus,  son 
and  successor  of  Alexius,  put  himself  at  the  head  of  an 
army,  took  possession  of  some  places  in  Cilicia,  and  en- 
camped before  the  walls  of  Antioch.  After  several  conflicts, 
in  which  victory  remained  uncertain,  neirotiations  were 
opened,  which  ended  in  the  oath  of  obedience  to  the  emperor 
being  taken  by  Baymond  of  Poictiers.  The  two  princes, 
united  bv  a  treatv,  resolved  to  turn  their  arms  ao:ainst  the 
Saracens.  Their  troops,  which  they  commanded  in  person, 
attacked  without  success  Aleppo  and  several  other  cities  of 
Svi'ia :  the  want  of  a  e:ood  understandinir.  which  accom- 
panied  the  G-reeks  and  Latins  at  all  times,  was  sure  to  defeat 
their  enterprises.  The  emperor  returned  with  vexation  to 
Antioch,  of  which  he  endeavoured  to  make  himself  master, 
but  was  compelled  by  a  sedition  to  leave  the  city  hastily.  He 
i^on  formed  the  project  of  ^-isiting  Jerusalem  at  the  head  of 


HISTORY   OF   THE    CETJSADE3.  813 

Ms  army,  witli  tlie  intention,  if  the  Latins  are  to  be  believed, 
of  obtaining  possession  of  Palestine.  Foulque  sent  ambas- 
sadors to  inform  him  that  be  could  only  be  received  in  the 
holy  city  in  the  character  of  a  simple  pilgrim ;  whereupon 
John,  who  did  not  dare  to  complain,  sent  presents  to  Foulque 
of  Anjou,  and  gave  up,  without  much  pain,  his  idea  of  a 
pilgrimage  to  Jerusalem.  After  a  campaign,  for  w^hich  he 
had  drawn  out  all  the  strength  of  the  empire,  he  returned 
to  his  capital,  having  obtained  nothing  by  his  enterprise  but 
the  vain  and  hollow  homage  of  the  prince  of  Antioch. 

Foulque  of  Anjou,  after  having  re-established  peace  among 
his  neighbours,  found,  on  his  return,  that  discord  not  only 
prevailed  in  his  states,  but  had  even  made  its  way  into  his 
own  house.  Walter,  count  of  Csesarea,  accused  Hugh, 
count  of  Jaffa,  of  the  crime  of  treason  towards  his  king. 
This  latter  noble  had  drawn  upon  himself  the  hatred  of  the 
king  and  the  principal  people  of  the  kingdom,  some  say  by 
his  pride  and  disobedience,  and  others  by  his  guilty  con- 
nection with  the  queen  Melisende.  When  the  barons  had 
heard  Walter  of  Caesarea,  they  decided  that  a  battle,  en 
cliamp  clos,  should  take  place  between  the  accused  and  the 
accuser ;  and  as  the  count  of  Jaffa  did  not  appear  in  the 
lists  on  the  day  nominated,  he  was  declared  guilty. 

Hugh  was  descended  from  the  famous  lord  of  Puyset,  who 
raised  the  standard  of  revolt  against  the  king  of  Pranp§, 
and  who,  conquered  in  the  end  by  Louis  le  Grros,*  despoiled 
of  his  possessions  and  banished  his  countr}^  had  taken 
refuge  in  Palestine,  where  his  exploits  had  secured  him  the 
county  of  Jaffa,  which  he  had  transmitted  to  his  son.  Hugh 
possessed  the  turbulent  and  impetuous  character  of  his 
father,  and,  like  him,  could  neither  pardon  an  injury  nor 
submit  to  an  act  of  authority.  On  learning  that  he  was 
condemned  without  being  heard,  he  set  no  bounds  to  his 
anger,  but  hastened  immediately  to  Ascalon,  to  implore  the 
aid  of  the  infidels  against  the  Christians.  The  Mussulmans, 
highly  pleased  with  the  division  which  had  sprung  up  among 

*  The  castle  of  Puyset,  near  Orleans,  was  besieged  three  times  by  all 
the  forces  of  Louis  le  Gros  ;  this  castle  was  at  length  taken  and  demo- 
lished. Veilly,  and  all  the  French  historians,  having  neglected  to  read 
William  of  Tyre,  make  the  seigneur  de  Puyset  die  in  the  kingdom  of 
Naples. 


314  HISTOEY   OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

their  enemies,  at  once  took  tlie  field,  and  ravaged  tlie  country 
as  far  as  the  city  of  Asur.  Hugh,  after  ha\TQg  contracted  a 
criminal  alliance  ^^ith  the  Saracens,  shut  himself  up  in  Jaffa, 
^vhere  he  was  soon  besieo^ed  by  the  kins:  of  Jerusalem. 

The  thirst  of  vengeance  animated  both  parties ;  Foulque 
of  Anjou  had  sworn  to  punish  the  treason  of  his  vassal ;  and 
Hugh  was  equally  determined  to  succeed,  or  bury  himself 
under  the  ruins  of  Jaffa.  Before  the  king's  forces  com- 
menced the  attack,  the  patriarch  of  Jerusalem  interposed 
his  mediation,  and  recalled  to  the  minds  of  the  Christian 
warriors  the  precepts  of  Grospel  charity.  Hugh  at  first 
rejected  all  mention  of  peace  with  indignation ;  but  having 
been  abandoned  bv  his  followers,  he  at  last  lent  an  unwillino^ 
ear  to  the  pacific  appeals  of  the  patriarch,  and  consented  to 
lav  down  his  arms.  The  kins:  of  Jerusalem  sent  home  his 
army,  and  the  count  of  Jafia  agreed  to  quit  the  kingdom, 
into  which  he  was  not  to  return  till  after  three  years  of 
exile.  He  was  awaiting  at  Jerusalem  the  favoiu-able  moment 
for  liis  departure,  when  an  unexpected  circumstance  was  on 
the  point  of  renewing  stifled  quarrels.  "  It  happened," 
says  "W^illiam  of  Tvre,*  *''  as  the  count  was  playing  at  dice  in 
the  sti-eet  of  the  Turners,  before  the  shop  of  a  merchant 
named  Alpham,  that  a  soldier,  a  Breton  by  nation,  having 
drawn  his  sword,  fell  suddenly  upon  the  said  count,  who, 
being  attentive  to  his  game,  expected  nothing  less  than  such 
an  attack,  and  with  the  first  cut,  without  the  least  warning, 
dealt  him  such  a  blow  with  the  said  sword  on  the  face  as 
stretched  him  upon  the  ground."  At  the  sight  of  such  a 
ti-agical  scene  the  people  gathered  round  in  crowds,  anxiously 
iuquiring  the  cause  of  it.  The  whole  city  was  filled  with 
rumours  of  various  kinds  ;  aU  mourned  the  fate  of  the  count 
of  Jaffa,  and  thought  no  more  of  his  rebellion.  They  did 
not  even  hesitate  to  whisper  complaints  against  the  king, 
whom  they  accused  of  having  himself  directed  the  poniard 
of  the  assassin.  The  king,  however,  caused  the  murderer 
to  be  immediately  aiTCsted,  and  he  was  tried  with  the  utmost 
rigour  of  the  laws.  He  was  ordered  to  have  his  limbs 
broken ;  and  the  king,  whilst  confirming  the  sentence,  only 

*  TVhen  quoting  William  of  Tyre,  I  avail  myself  always  of  the  old 
translation,  whose  nai/and  simple  style  associates  best  with  the  spirit  and 
manners  of  the  twelfth  century. 


niSTOET   OF    THE    CEUSADES.  815 

added  tliat  the  assassin  of  the  count  of  Jaffa  should  not,  as 
was  usual,  have  his  tongue  cut  out,  in  order  that  he  might 
name  his  accomplices.  The  unhappy  wretch  expired,  de- 
claring that  no  one  had  induced  him  to  commit  the  deed, 
but  that  he  thought  he  should  serve  religion  and  his  king 
bj  it.  Every  one  was  thus  left  free  to  form  conjectures 
according  to  the  feeling  that  animated  him,  or  the  party  he 
had  adopted.  The  count  of  Jaffa  was  not  long  in  recovering 
from  his  wound;  at  the  end  of  a  few  months  he  quitted 
Palestine,  and  went  to  Sicily,  where  he  died  before  the  time 
fixed  for  the  end  of  his  exile. 

Queen  Melisende  entertained  a  deep  resentment  at  all 
which  had  taken  place ;  by  which  she  proved  that  she  was  not 
a  stranger  to  the  origin  of  these  fatal  discords.  "  From  the 
day  on  which  the  count  left  the  kingdom,"  says  "William  of 
Tyre,  "  all  who  had  against  him  been  informers  to  the  king, 
and  brought  him  into  his  ill  graces,  so  incurred  the  indig- 
nation of  the  queen  that  they  were  not  in  too  great  safety 
of  their  persons,  and  even  the  king  did  not  seem  to  be  quite 
at  his  ease  among  the  relations  and  favourites  of  the  queen." 
The  anger  of  the  queen,  however,  yielded  to  time,  and  did 
not  outlive  the  count  of  Jaffa.  Foulque  himself,  whether  it 
was  that  age  had  blunted  his  feelings,  or  that  it  appeared 
more  prudent  to  him  to  efface  the  last  traces  of  an  unfor- 
tunate affair,  repented  of  having  compromised  the  honour  of 
the  queen,  and  neglected  nothing  that  could  make  her 
forget  the  excess  of  his  jealousy  and  the  rigours  he  had 
employed. 

Amidst  these  disagreeable  events  the  king  of  Jerusalem 
had  reason  to  congratulate  himself  at  having  no  invasion 
of  the  Mussulmans  to  repel.  The  prince  of  Mossoul, 
Zengui,  attacked  some  Christian  fortresses,  but  he  was  soon 
diverted  from  his  enterprises  against  the  Franks  by  the  pro- 
ject of  uniting  the  principality  of  Damascus  to  his  states. 
The  Mussulman  prince  who  reigned  at  Damascus  could  find 
no  other  means  of  resisting  Zengui  than  by  calling  in  the 
Christians  to  his  help.  The  king  of  Jerusalem,  after  having 
received  hostages  and  considerable  sums  of  money,  took  the 
field  at  the  head  of  his  army,  for  the  purpose  of  defending  a 
Mussulman  city ;  but  Zengui,  who  feared  to  try  his  strength 
with   the  Franks,   did  not  venture  to   attack   Damascus. 

15* 


316  nisTOEY  or  the  ceusades. 

According  to  the  conditious  of  the  alliance  vrith.  the  Chris- 
tians, the  citv  of  Paneas,  or  Ca?sarea  of  Philippi,  -^hich  had 
recentlv  fallen,  into  the  hands  of  the  Saracens,  was  to  -be 
given  lip  to  them.  The  warriors  of  Damascus  and  Jerusa- 
lem marched  together  to  lav  siege  to  that  city,  situated  at 
the  foot  of  Libanus,  and  near  the  sources  of  the  Jordan. 
For  the  second  time  the  standards  of  Christ  and  Mahomet 
were  seen  floating  over  one  army  and  one  camp.  Caesarea 
of  Phihppi  capitulated  after  a  siege  of  a  few  days,  and  was 
given  up  to  the  king  of  Jerusalem. 

This  conquest  was  the  most  important  event  that  signal- 
ized the  latter  years  of  the  reign  of  Foulque  of  Anjou.  The 
king  of  Jerusalem,  whilst  hunting  in  the  plain  of  Ptolemais, 
fell  fi'om  his  horse,  and  died  of  the  fall,  leaving  no  one  to 
succeed  him  but  two  children  of  tender  age.  He  was  less 
regretted  on  account  of  his  personal  quahties  than  for  the 
sad  condition  in  which  his  death  left  the  kingdom.  "William 
of  Tvre,  who  praises  the  ^irtue3  of  Foulque  of  Anjou, 
remai'ks.  with  a  naivete  worthv  of  these  remote  times,  that 
this  prince  had  red  hau-,  and  yet  he  could  not  be  reproached 
with  any  of  the  faults  usually  attributed  to  men  of  that 
colour.  He  was  more  than  sixty  years  of  age  when  he 
ascended  the  throne  of  Jerusalem ;  in  the  last  vears  of  his 
life  his  memoiy  was  so  weakened  that  he  did  not  know  his 
own  servants,  and  had  not  sufficient  strenofth  and  activitv  to 
be  the  head  of  a  kincjdom  surrounded  bv  enemies.  He 
emploved  himself  more  in  building  fortresses  than  in  col- 
lecting armies,  and  in  defending  his  frontiers  than  in  making 
new  conquests.  Under  his  reign  the  military  ardour  of  the 
Christians  seemed  to  grow  weaker,  and  was  displaced  by  a 
spirit  of  discord,  which  brought  about  calamities  much 
greater  than  those  of  war.  At  the  period  of  the  coronation 
of  Foulque  of  Anjou,  the  Christian  states  were  at  the 
highest  degree  of  their  prosperity ;  towards  the  end  of  his 
reign  thev  showed  a  tendencv  to  decline. 

Baldwin  III.,  thirteen  years  of  age,  succeeded  his  father, 
and  Queen  Melisende  became  regent  of  the  kingdom.  Thus 
the  reins  of  government  fell  from  the  weak  and  powerless 
hands  of  an  old  man  into  those  of  a  woman  and  a  child. 
Parties  soon  sprung  up  around  the  throne ;  the  clergy,  the 
knights,  the  barons,  even  the  people  took  a  dangerous  part 


HISTORY   OF   THE    CEUSADES.  317 

in  affairs  of  state,  and  tlie  autliority  of  the  prince,  which 
hitherto  had  been  but  that  of  the  general  of  an  armj,  lost 
under  the  regency  of  Queen  Melisende  the  consideration 
and  splendour  it  had  derived  from  victory.  The  government 
insensibly  assumed  the  turbulent  form  of  a  republic,  and  in 
the  political  relations  which  the  Christians  held  at  this 
period  with  the  Saracens,*  the  latter  believed  that  several 
chiefs  were  at  the  head  of  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem. 

Baldwin  did  not  wait  for  the  period  of  his  majority  to  be 
crowned  king,  being  scarcely  fourteen  years  old,  when,  in 
the  presence  of  the  barons  and  the  clergy,  he  received  the 
sword  t  with  which  he  was  to  defend  religion  and  justice  ;  the 
ring,  the  symbol  of  faith ;  the  sceptre  and  the  crown,  marks 
of  dignity  and  power ;  and  the  apple  or  globe,  as  an  image 
of  the  earth  and  the  kingdom  he  was  called  upon  to  govern. 
Young  Baldwin  already  displayed  courage  above  his  age ;  in 
the  very  first  days  of  his  reign  he  achieved  a  glorious  expe- 
dition beyond  the  Jordan,  in  which  he  gained  possession  of 
the  Valley  of  Moses ;  but  he  had  not  experience  enough  to 
know  what  enemies  he  ought  to  attack  or  what  allies  he 
ought  to  defend.  On  his  return  from  the  expedition  of  the 
Jordan  he  undertook  an  unjust  and  unfortunate  war,  the 
presage  of  a  sad  future  for  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem. 

An  Armenian,  who  governed  the  city  of  Bosra  in  the  name 
of  the  sultan  of  Damascus,  came  to  Jerusalem  to  offer  to 
deliver  up  to  the  Christians  the  place  which  he  commanded, 
and  the  barons  and  principal  people  were  convoked  to  hear 
his  proposals.  The  wiser  part  of  the  assembly  referred  to 
the   aUiance   made  wdth  the    Saracens   of  Damascus ;   the 

*  In  William  of  Tyre  may  be  seen  the  letter  which  the  vizir  of  Damascus 
addressed  to  the  Christian  princes  of  Jerusalem. 

t  The  Assizes  of  Jerusalem  speak  thus  of  the  coronation  of  the  king  : — 
Ly  met  I'anneau  au  doi«t,  qui  sinefie  foi ;  et  aspres  ly  ceint  I'espee,  qui 
sinefie  justice,  a  deffendre  foi  et  sainte  esglise  ;  et  aspres  la  couronne,  qui 
sinefie  la  dignite ;  et  aspres  le  sceptre,  qui  sinefie  chastier  et  deffendre  ;  et 
aspres  la  pomme,  qui  sinefie  la  terre  du  royaume.  [Although  oftering  a 
translation,  I  cannot  resist  giving  this  very  curious  piece  of  old  French. — 
Trans.] 

They  put  the  ring  on  his  finger,  as  signifying  faith  ;  then  they  girded 
on  the  sword,  which  means  he  must  defend  justice,  faith,  and  the  holy 
church;  next  the  crown,  which  denotes  dignity;  after  that  the  sceptre, 
with  which  he  is  both  to  punish  and  defend  ;  and  at  last  the  apple  or  globe, 
which  signifies  the  kingdom  of  the  earth. 


318  HISTOEY    or    THE    CKUSADES. 

promises  of  an  -iiiLknown  soldier  appeared  to  them  to  have 
no  security,  and  to  inspire  no  confidence ;  they  said  the 
kin^^dom  of  Jerusalem  did  not  want  for  enemies  to  combat, 
or  conquests  to  attempt ;  it  was  their  duty  to  attack  the 
most  formidable,  and  protect  the  others  as  useful  auxiliaries. 
This  advice,  which  was  the  most  reasonable,  was  that  which 
obtained  the  smallest  number  of  suffrages.  Wonders  were 
related  of  the  country  they  were  about  to  conquer ;  Bosra 
was  the  capital  of  Upper  Arabia,  all  the  riches  of  that 
countr}^  appeared  abeady  to  belong  to  the  Christians,  and 
all  who  opposed  a  conquest  so  brilliant  and  so  easy  were 
accused  of  treason.  They  deliberated  in  the  midst  of 
tumult,*  and  the  cries  of  a  misled  multitude  smothered  the 
voice  of  reason  and  prudence.  The  coimcil  of  the  barons 
and  the  principal  people  decided  that  an  expedition,  upon 
which  so  many  hopes  were  built,  should  be  undertaken. 

The  Christian  army  was  soon  on  its  march,  and  across  the 
mountains  of  Libanus.  When  it  arrived  in  the  territory  of 
Damascus,  its  first  conflict  was  with  the  Saracens  gathered 
together  to  oppose  its  passage.  After  sustaining  several 
severe  encounters,  the  Christians  succeeded  in  gaining  the 
country  called  Traconite,  where  they  found  nothing  but  plains 
burnt  up  by  the  ardent  rays  of  the  sun.  The  roads  were 
difficult,  and  the  locusts  ha^ing  fallen  into  the  wells  and 
cisterns,  had  poisoned  all  the  waters.  The  inhabitants,  con- 
cealed in  subterranean  caverns,  laid  ambushes  in  all  direc- 
tions for  the  Christian  army  ;  whilst  the  Mussulman  archers, 
planted  upon  all  the  hills  and  acchvities,  left  the  warriors  of 
Jerusalem  not  a  moment's  repose.  The  misfortunes  of  the 
army  (it  is  William  of  Tyre  who  speaks)  increased  every 
day,  and  there  wa^  poured  upon  the  Christians  such  a  quan- 
tity, and  as  it  were  continually,  of  all  sorts  of  arrows,  that 
they  appeared  to  descend  upon  them  Wee  hail  or  heavy  rain 
upon  houses  covered  icith  slates  and  tiles,  men  and  beasts 
heing  stucTc  all  ot'er  icith  them.  Nevertheless,  the  hope  of 
winning  a  rich  city  sustained  the  courage  of  the  Christian 
soldiers,  and  enabled  them  to  brave  all  these  perils.     But 

*  "William  of  Tyre  attributes  the  determination  of  the  king  and  the 
barons  to  the  cries  of  the  populace  of  Jerusalem  ;  the  same  historian 
relates  this  expedition  with  many  details  in  his  sixteenth  book,  ch.  vii. — 
xiii. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    CRUSADES.  319 

■when  they  arrived  within  sight  of  Bosra,  it  was  an- 
nounced to  them  that  the  wife  of  the  Armenian  commandant 
had  called  the  garrison  to  arms,  and  that  she  was  prepared 
to  defend  the  city  which  her  husband  had  promised  to  give 
up  to  the  king  of  Jerusalem.  This  unexpected  news  at  once 
sj)read  consternation  and  discouragement  through  the  Chris- 
tian army.  The  knights  and  barons,  struck  with  the  mis- 
fortunes that  threatened  the  Christian  soldiers,  pressed  the 
king  to  abandon  his  army,  and  save  his  person  and  the  cross 
of  Christ.  Young  Baldwin  rejected  the  advice  of  his  faithful 
barons,  and  insisted  upon  sharing  all  their  perils. 

As  soon  as  the  order  for  retreat  was  given,  the  Mussul- 
mans, with  loud  cries,  set  out  in  pursuit  of  the  Christians. 
The  soldiers  of  Jerusalem  closed  their  ranks,  and  marched  in 
silence,  sword  in  hand,  bearing  away  their  wounded  and  dead. 
The  Saracens,  who  could  not  shake  or  break  through  their 
enemy,  and  who,  in  their  pursuit,  found  no  trace  of  carnage, 
believed  they  were  actually  JBghting  against  men  of  iron. 
The  region  which  the  Christians  were  traversing  was  covered 
with  heath,  thistles,  and  other  plants  dried  hj  the  heat  of 
the  summer.  The  Saracens  set  fire  to  these  ;  the  wind  bore 
the  flames  and  smoke  towards  the  Christian  army,  and  the 
Franks  marched  over  a  burning  plain,  with  clouds  of  smoke, 
ashes,  and  dust  floating  over  and  aroimd  them.  William  of 
Tyre,  in  his  history,  compares  them  to  smiths,  to  such  a 
degree  were  their  clothes  and  their  faces  blackened  by  the 
fire  which  devoui'ed  the  plain.  The  knights,  the  soldiers, 
and  the  people  who  followed  the  army,  gathered  in  a  crowd 
around  the  bishop  of  Nazareth,  who  bore  the  wood  of  the 
true  cross,  and  conjured  him  with  tears  to  put  an  end  by 
his  prayers  to  calamities  they  were  no  longer  able  to  bear. 

The  bishop  of  Nazareth,  touched  by  their  despair,  raised 
the  cross,  imploring  the  mercy  of  Heaven, — and,  at  the 
moment  the  direction  of  the  wind  was  changed.  The  flames 
and  the  smoke  which  desolated  the  Christians  were  imme- 
diately wafted  against  the  Mussulmans.  The  Eranks  pur- 
sued their  march,  persuaded  that  God  had  wrought  a  miracle 
to  save  them.  A  knight,  whom  they  had  never  before  seen, 
mounted  on  a  white  horse,  and  bearing  a  red  standard, 
preceded  the  Christian  army,  and  conducted  it  out  of 
danger.     The  people  and  the  soldiers  took  him  for  an  angel 


S20  KDROET   OF   THE    CBrSJLDBS. 

£rom  heaven,  and  his  miraculous  presence  re-animated  their 
stzcngth  and.  their  courage.  At  length  the  army  of  Baldwin, 
after  haTing  undergone  sSL  sorts  of  misery,  returned  to 
Jerusalem,  where  the  inhabitants  rejoiced  at  its  arrival, 
singing  iheae  words  from  the  Scriptures, — "  I/et  u^  give 
amrtelce^  wp  to  joy,  for  tliM  peopJ-e  thai  u-a-s  dead  is  resivs- 
cxtated;  it  wa^  lost,  and  behold  h^re  it  is  fouiid  againr 

But  whilst  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  were  rejoicing  at 
tiie  return  of  their  warriors,  the  Christian  states  lost  one 
of  tlieir  most  important  places,  and  experienced  an  irre- 
parable misfortune.  Zengui,  whom  the  caliph  of  Bagdad 
and  all  true  Mussulmans  considered  as  the  buckler  and  the 
support  of  Islamism,  extended  his  empire  from  Mossoul  to 
Hie  fiontiers  of  Damascus,  and  was  continuing  without 
intermission  the  course  of  his  victories  and  conquests.  The 
Christians  made  no  effort  to  stop  the  progress  of  so  redoubt- 
able a  poww.  Zengui,  who  united  -vvith  bravery  all  the 
Feaomoes  of  a  skilful  policy,  left  them  in  a  deceitftil  security, 
and  determined  only  to  awaken  them  from  their  long  sleep 
when  he  had  it  in  his  power  to  give  a  mortal  blow  to  their 
empire.  He  knew,  by  experience,  that  nothing  was  more 
£ital  to  the  Christians  than  too  long  a  repose ;  the  Franks, 
who  owed  ereiything  to  their  arms,  were  almost  always 
weakened  by  peace,  and  when  not  fighting  against  the 
Saracens,  generally  fell  out  among  themselves. 

The  kingdom  of  Jerusalem  had  two  formidable  barriers, 
tbe  prindpaUty  of  Antioch  and  the  county  of  Edessa. 
Saymondof  Poictiers  defended  the  Orontes  from  the  invasion 
of  the  Saracens,  and  old  Josselia  de  Courtenay  had  been  for 
a  long  time  the  tearrM*  of  the  infidels  on  the  banks  of  the 
^Ei^hrates;  but  he  was  recently  dead.  He  had  fought  to  his 
last  breath,  and  even  on  his  bed  of  death  made  his  arms  and 
his  bravet^'  respected. 

Josselin  was  besieging  a  castle  near  Aleppo,  when  a  tower 
fell  down  neso*  him  and  covCTed  him  with  its  ruins.  He  was 
txanspoorted  in  a  dving  state  to  Edessa,  and  as  he  lay  lan- 
gnishing  on  his  bed,  expecting  nothing  but  death,  it  was 
announced  to  him  that  the  sultan  of  Iconium  had  laid  siege 
to  one  of  his  strong  places  ;  upon  which  he  sent  for  his  son 
and  commanded  him  to  go  instantly  and  attack  the  enemy. 
Young  Josaelin  hesitated,  and  represented  to  his  father  that 


I 


HI5T0EY    or    THE    CEUSADES.  321 

he  tad  not  a  gtifficient  number  of  troops  to  meet  tte  Turks. 
The  old  warrior,  who  had  never  acknowledged  the  existence 
of  obstacles,  was  determined  before  he  died  to  leave  an  exam- 
ple to  his  son,  and  caused  himself  to  be  borne  in  a  litttr  at 
the  head  of  his  soldiers.  As  they  approached  the  besieged 
citj,  he  was  informed  that  the  Turks  had  retired,  whereupon 
he  ordered  his  litter  to  stop,  raised  his  eves  towards  heaven 
as  if  to  return  thanks  for  the  flight  of  the  Saracens,  and 
expired  surrounded  by  his  faithful  warriors. 

His  mortal  remains  were  transported  to  Edessa,  the  inha- 
bitants of  which  citT  came  out  to  meet  and  join  the  funeral 
procession,  which  presented  a  most  affecting  spectacle.  Here 
were  to  be  seen  the  mourning  soldiers  baring  the  coffin  of 
their  chief;  and  there  a  whole  people  lamenting  the  loss  of 
their  support  and  defender,  and  celebrating  the  last  victory 
of  a  Christian  hero. 

Old  Josselin  died  deploring  the  fate  of  Edessa,  about  to 
be  governed  by  a  weak  and  pusillanimous  prince  :  for  from 
his  childhood  the  son  of  Courtenay  had  been  addicted  to 
drunkenness  and  debaucherv.  In  an  asre  and  a  countrv  in 
which  these  vices  were  sufficiently  common,  the  excesses  of 
young  Josselin  had  frequently  scandalized  the  Christian 
"w^uriors.  As  soon  as  he  was  master,  he  quitted  the  citv  of 
Edessa,  to  take  up  his  abode  at  TurbesseL  a  delicious  retreat 
on  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates.  There,  entirelv  abandoned 
to  his  vicious  inclinations,  he  neglected  the  pav  of  his  troops 
and  the  fortifications  of  his  forts,  equally  heedless  of  the 
cares  of  government  and  the  menaces  of  the  Saracens. 

Zengui  had  been  for  a  length  of  time  watching  for  a 
favourable  opportunity  of  surprising  the  citv  of  Edessa ;  as 
this  conquest  would  not  only  flatter  his  pride  and  ambition, 
but  would  render  him  dearer  to  all  the  disciples  of  Mahomet. 
In  order  to  retain  Josselin  in  his  £incied  securitv,  the  prince 
of  Mossoul  feigned  to  make  war  against  the  Saracens  ;  but 
at  the  moment  he  was  supposed  to  be  most  busiiv  engaged 
in  an  attack  upon  several  Mussulman  castles  in  the  east  of 
Mesopotamia,  he  appeared  at  the  head  of  a  formidable  army 
before  the  walls  of  Edessa.*     A  great  number  of  Cnrds  and 

*  Kemaleddin,  an  Arabian  historian,  and  William  of  Tyre  agree  as  to 
the  priadpal  drcamsianoes  oi  tlus  sieige. 


322  nisTOET  OF  the  cbusades. 

Turcomans,  wandering  and  barbarous  tribes,  bad  joined  bis 
standard,  attracted  by  tbe  bopes  of  a  ricb  booty.  At  tbe 
lii'st  signal  given  by  Zengui,  the  city  was  suiTounded  on  all 
sides ;  seven  enormous  wooden  towers  were  raised  higher 
than  the  rampai^ts ;  numbers  of  formidable  machines  un- 
ceasinglv  battered  the  walls,  or  hurled  into  the  city  stones, 
iavelins.  and  inflammable  matters  ;  whilst  the  foundations  of 
the  towers  of  the  fortifications  were  being  undermined  by 
the  infidels.  The  walls,  which  were  only  supported  by 
slight,  ill-fixed  posts,  were  falling  to  pieces,  and,  covering 
the  earth  with  their  ruins,  seemed  ready  to  offer  an  easy 
passage  to  the  Mussulman  soldiers. 

AVhen  on  the  point  to  give  the  signal  for  destruction,  the 
fierce  Mussulmans  stopped,  and  summoned  the  city  to  sur- 
render. The  sight  of  the  death  which  threatened  them  did 
not  at  all  weaken  the  courage  of  the  inhabitants,  and  they 
answered  that  they  would  all  perish  sooner  than  give  up  a 
Christian  city  to  the  iofidels.  They  exhorted  each  other  to 
merit  the  cro^vn  of  martyrdom :  "  Let  us  not  fear,"  said  they, 
"  these  stones  launched  agaiast  our  towers  and  our  houses  ; 
he  who  made  the  firmament,  and  created  legions  of  angels, 
defends  us  agaiast  his  enemies,  or  prepares  us  an  abode  in 
heaven."  Animated  by  such  discourses,  the  inhabitants  of 
Edessa  exerted  themselves  to  destroy  the  towers  and  the 
works  of  the  besiegers,  the  hopes  of  beiug  succoured  re- 
doubliag  their  zeal  and  courage.  They  expected,  says  an 
Armenian  author,  assistance  from  a  nation  which  they  called 
the  valiant,  and  every  day  looked  to  see,  from  the  height  of 
their  walls,  the  standards  of  the  victorious  Franks. 

The  hoped-for  succoui's  were  vainly  expected.  "When 
Josselin  learnt  the  danger  of  his  capital,  he  aroused  himself 
from  his  sloth,  and  sent  information  of  it  to  Ea}TQond  of 
Poictiers,  and  the  queen  regent  of  Jerusalem.  But  the 
prince  of  Antioch,  who  disliked  Josselin,  refused  to  assist 
Edessa,  and  the  troops  of  Jerusalem,  although  set  forward 
on  their  march,  could  not  arrive  in  time.  Josselin  ought  to 
have  devoted  himself  to  repair  the  consequences  of  his  faults, 
but  he  had  not  the  courage  to  seek  death  under  the  walls  of  a 
city  he  could  not  save,  and  whose  defence  he  had  neglected. 

On  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  the  siege,  several  towers  feU 
dcwn  with  a  horrible  crash ;  and  Zengui  at  once  ordered  his 


> 


HISTOEY   OF   THE    CRUSADES.  323 

anny  to  enter  the  place.  To  paint  the  frightful  scenes  of 
this  last  attack,  I  must  borrow  tiie  words  of  a  contemporary- 
author  : — "  The  moment  at  which  the  sun  began  to  shine 
above  the  horizon,  appeared  like  a  night  illumined  by  the 
fires  of  the  storm.  As  soon  as  the  ramparts  and  towers 
fell,  all  the  city  was  filled  with  terror.  Nevertheless  the 
defenders  of  Edessa  thought  not,  for  a  moment,  of  flight, 
but  all  joined  in  the  cry  of  the  brave,  conquer  or  die. 
Some  employed  themselves  in  propping  up  the  walls,  whilst 
others  boldly  flew  to  meet  the  enemy ;  the  clergy,  clothed  in 
helmet  and  cuirass,  marching  at  their  head.  The  bishops, 
bearing  each  a  cross  in  his  hands,  bestowed  their  benedic- 
tions on  the  people  and  animated  them  to  the  fight." 

The  enemy  advanced  uttering  frightful  cries  ;  even  amidst 
the  din  of  a  general  assault,  the  voices  of  the  Saracen 
heralds-at-arms  were  heard  encouraging  the  soldiers,  and 
promising  the  pillage  of  the  city  to  the  conquerors.  Then, 
to  employ  the  expression  of  an  Armenian  poet,  the  pusilla- 
nimous were  seen  shedding  torrents  of  tears,  whilst  the 
brave,  heedless  of  the  stroke  of  the  sabre,  rushed  amidst  the 
ranks  of  the  Mussulmans. 

Neither  prodigies  of  valour,  nor  the  last  efibrts  of  despair 
could  save  the  city  or  its  inhabitants.  A  great  part  of  the 
Mussulman  army  was  already  in  the  place ;  and  all  who 
crossed  the  steps  of  the  conquerors  fell  beneath  the  sword. 
Most  of  those  who  sought  safety  in  the  citadel,  found  death 
under  its  ramparts,  and  were  trampled  upon  and  stifled  by 
the  crowd.  The  city  of  Edessa  presented,  everywhere,  the 
most  lamentable  scenes  ;  some  fell  whilst  flying,  and  died, 
crushed  to  death  by  the  feet  of  the  horses  ;  whilst  others, 
hastening  to  the  succour  of  their  friends  and  neighbours, 
were  themselves  slaughtered  by  the  barbarians.  Neither 
the  weakness  of  a  timid  sex,  nor  age  on  the  brink  of  the 
tomb ;  neither  the  cries  of  infants,  nor  the  screams  of  young 
girls  who  sought  safety  in  the  arms,  or  beneath  the  garments 
of  their  parents,  coidd  abate  the  rage  of  the  Saracens.  They 
whom  the  sword  had  not  yet  reached,  looked  for  nothing  but 
death ;  some  crept  to  the  churches  to  await  it,  and  died  em- 
bracing the  altars  of  Christ ;  whilst  others,  yielding  to  their 
despair,  remained  motionless  in  their  houses,  where  they 
were  massacred  with  their  families. 


324  HISTOET   OF   THE    CEUSADES. 

The  citadel  soon  surrendered ;  the  soldiers  who  defended 
it  only  asking  their  lives  ;  but,  notwithstanding  the  capitula- 
tion, many  were  put  to  the  sword.  A  great  part  of  the 
priests  who  had  survived  the  carnage  were  condemned  to 
slaverv  ;  an  Armenian  patriarch  was  stripped  of  his  vest- 
ments, dragged  through  the  streets,  and  beaten  with  rods. 
Matthew  of  Edessa,  one  of  the  most  celebrated  historians 
of  Armenia,  fell  under  the  sword  of  the  Mussulmans.  Hugh, 
a  Latin  archbishop,  ha^'ing  endeavoured  to  escape,  was,  with 
aU  his  clergy,  slaughtered  by  the  infidels.  His  treasures, 
which  he  carried  with  him,  and  which  might  have  been  use- 
fiillv  employed  for  the  defence  of  the  city,  became  the  prey 
of  the  enemy.  Pious  historians  impute  the  fall  of  Edessa 
to  the  avarice  of  this  prelate,  and  appear  to  beheve  that  he 
was  punished  in  another  world  for  having  preferred  his  gold 
to  the  safety  of  his  fellow- citizens.* 

"WTien  the  Mussulmans  had  become  masters  of  the  citadel, 
their  priests  ascended  the  steeples  of  the  churches  to  pro- 
claim these  words  :  ''  Oh  Mahomet !  prophet  of  heaven,  we 
have  gained  a  sreat  victorv  in  thv  name :  we  have  destroved 
the  people  that  worshipped  stone,  and  torrents  of  blood 
have  been  shed  to  make  thy  law  triumph."  After  this  pro- 
clamation, the  Saracens  redoubled  their  excesses.  The 
Gazis  or  conquerors  satiated  themselves  with  blood ;  the 
dead  bodies  were  mutilated,  and  their  heads  sent  to  Bagdad; 
and  even  to  Ivhorasan.  All  who  remained  ahve  in  the  city 
of  Edessa  were  treated  as  a  flock  of  animals,  and  sold  in  the 
pubhc  places.  The  Christians,  loaded  "with  chains,  after 
having  lost  their  propeiiy,  their  country,  and  their  liberty, 
had  the  still  further  grief  of  seeing  their  religion,  which  was 
aU  they  had  left  to  console  them  in  their  misfortunes,  made  a 
subject  of  ridicule  by  the  infidels.  The  churches  were  plun- 
dered of  their  ornaments,  and  the  sanctuarv  became  the 
scene  of  the   most   shocking   debaucheries.     Many  of  the 

*  We  have  before  us  in  manuscript  some  historical  and  geographical 
notes  upon  the  city  of  Edessa,  communicated  to  us  by  M.  J.  Chaban  de 
Cerbied,  an  Armenian  professor.  This  work  is  rendered  more  valuable 
bv  M.  J.  Chahan  de  Cerbied's  (its  author)  being  born  at  Edessa,  where 
he  passed  many  years.  These  notes  are  to  be  published  in  a  general 
picture  of  Armenia,  which  will  not  fail  to  attract  the  atteation  of  the 
learned. 


HISTOET    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  325 

faithful  whom  the  horrors  of  war  had  spared,  could  not  sup- 
port the  sight  of  such  profanations,  and  died  with  despair.  * 

Thus  a  city,  whose  citadel,  ramparts,  and  position  on  two 
mountains,  rendered  one  of  the  strongest  places  in  Asia,  fell 
into  the  power  of  the  Mussulmans.  The  traditions  of  reli- 
gion and  history  carry  back  its  origin  to  the  highest  anti- 
quity. Narses,  in  a  path^ic  elegy,  deplores  the  faU  of  this 
celebrated  city,  and  makes  itself  speak  of  its  ancient  splen- 
dour.t  "  I  was,"  says  she,  "  as  a  queen  in  the  midst  of  her 
court  ;  sixty  towns  standing  around  me  formed  my  train ; 
my  numerous  children  passed  their  days  in  pleasures ;  the 
fertility  of  my  fields,  the  freshness  of  my  limpid  waters,  and 
the  beauty  of  my  palaces  were  admired ;  my  altars,  loaded 
with  treasures,  shed  their  splendour  afar,  and  appeared  to  be 
the  abode  of  angels.  I  surpassed  in  magnificence  the  proud- 
est cities  of  Asia,  and  I  was  as  a  celestial  edifice  built  upon 
the  bosom  of  the  earth." 

The  conquest  of  Edessa  exalted  the  pride  of  the  Saracens. 
The  caliph  of  Bagdad  ordered  that  the  barbarous  destroyer  of 
the  Christians  should  be  named  in  the  public  prayers  of  the 

*  The  greater  part  of  the  Arabian  historians  assert  that  Zengui  sought 
to  repair  the  evils  his  army  had  caused  to  the  inhabitants  of  Edessa. 
Keinaleddin  relates  the  following  anecdote  on  this  subject,  which  makes 
us  at  the  same  time  acquainted  with  the  Mussulman  spirit  of  history  and 
manners.  We  will  transcribe  the  Latin  extract  from  Dom.  Berthereau  : 
— Norredinus  ingressus  est  urbem,  diripuit  earn,  incolas  jugo  captivitatis 
submisit ;  illis  evacuata  fuit  urbs,  pauci  tantum  remanserunt.  Ex  cap- 
tivis  unam  misit  ancillam  Norredinus  ad  Zeineddinum  Ali  Koudgoucum, 
pro  rege,  patris  sui  in  Mosula  inter  muneraquse  ad  eum  misit ;  quamcum 
vidisset  ille,  statim  ilia  usus  est ;  lavit  se  postea,  dixitque  suis  :  Nostisne 
quid  mihi  hac  die  accident  ?  Dixerunt,  non.  Dixit :  Cum  Roham 
cepimus,  regnante  Zengui,  inter  res  raptas  in  manus  meas  incidit  ancilla 
pulchra,  ejusque  pulchritudo  mihi  admodiim  placuit ;  ad  earn  declinavit 
cor  meum,  statimque  jussu  Zengui  martyris  fuit  inclamatum  :  Redde 
servos  opesque  raptas.  Metuendus  porro  erat  et  reverendus ;  ancillam 
reddidi,  ei  vero  semper  adhaesit  cor  meum  :  nove  vero  misit  mihi  dona 
Norredinus,  quae  inter,  ancillas  misit  plures,  quas  inter  eamdem  ancillam. 
Coitu  earn  subegi,  ne  adhuc  etiam  toUetur. — Kemaleddin,  Hist,  de  Halep. 
p.  62,  translation  of  Dom.  Berthereau. 

t  M.  Cerbied  has  translated  this  piece  into  French,  which  for  several 
reasons  deserves  to  be  known.  This  poem,  in  seven  cantos,  was  com- 
posed by  Narses-le-Beau,  the  Armenian  patriarch  of  the  city  of  Edessa, 
to  console  his  fellow-citizens  in  their  misfortune,  and  arouse  the  zeal  of 
the  defenders  of  the  Christian  religion  against  the  Turks. 


326  HisTOEY  or  the  ceusades. 

Fridays,  and  that  the  whole  ^lussulinan  people  should  offer  up 
thanks  to  Heaven  for  his  ^-ictories.  Zengui  left  some  troops 
in  the  conquered  city,  and  pursued  the  course  of  his  triiunphs ; 
but  fortune  did  not  permit  him  to  finish  that  which  he  had 
beo-un.  He  was  besieo:ino:  the  castle  of  Schabar,  in  Meso- 
potamia,  when  he  was  assassinated  by  some  slaves  whom  ill- 
treatment  had  irritated.  The  news  of  his  death  consoled 
the  Clu-istians  for  their  defeats,  alid  they  expressed  a  joy  as 
immoderate  as  if  they  had  beheld  the  whole  power  of  the 
^Mussulmans  fall  at  once.  But  this  joy  was  of  very  short 
duration,  for  abundance  of  new  enemies  and  new  misfor- 
tunes soon  followed  to  overwhelm  them. 

Josselin,  who  had  taken  advantage  of  the  troubles  which 
ensued  upon  the  death  of  the  prince  of  Mossoul  to  retake 
the  citv  of  Edessa,  ill-guarded  by  tlie  Mussidmans,  found 
himself  unexpectedly  besieged  by  Xoureddin,  the  second  son 
of  Zengui.      Xoureddin  had  received,  as  his  share  of  the 

O  ... 

heritage  of  his  father,  the  principality  of  Aleppo,  and  was 
easfer  to  signalize  his  zeal  against  the  Christians.  Josselin 
and  his  companions,  who  had  surprised  the  city  of  Edessa 
amidst  the  darkness  of  night,  were  wanting  in  machines  of 
war  to  besiege  and  get  possession  of  the  citadel.  ~\Vhen  the 
citv  was  invested  by  the  prince  of  Aleppo,  the  Christian 
warriors  who  were  placed  between  the  garrison  of  the  for- 
tress and  the  ^Jussulman  army,  saw  at  once  the  danger  of 
their  position.  As  in  desperate  circumstances,  a  thousand 
resolutions  are,  by  turns,  formed  and  rejected  ;  whilst  they 
deliberated,  the  enemy  pressed  and  tlu'eatened  them.-  There 
soon  remained  no  safety  for  them  in  a  citv  which  they  had 
entered  as  conquerors  ;  and,  after  ha\'ing  braved  death  to 
get  possession  of  it,  they  decided  upon  facing  equal  perils  to 
get  out  of  it.  The  soldiers  of  Josselin,  consisting  of  Chris- 
tians who  had  gathered  to  the  city,  and  of  the  small  number 
of  inliabitants  who  had  survived  the  massacre  of  their  bre- 
thren, had  now  nothing  left  but  their  endeavours  to  escape 
tlie  barbarity  of  the  Mussulmans.  They  made  their  prepa- 
rations for  flight  in  silence ;  the  gates  were  opened  in  the 
middle  of  the  night,  and  eveiw  one  bearing  away  that  which 
he  esteemed  most  valuable,  a  weeping  crowd  pressed  along 
the  streets.  Already  a  great  number  of  these  unhappy 
fugitives  had  passed  the  gates  of  the  city,  headed  by  the 


HISTORY   OF    THE    CEUSADES.  327 

warriors  commanded  by  Josselin,  and  had  advanced  into  the 
plain  where  the  Saracens  were  encamped,  when  the  garrison 
of  the  citadel,  warned  by  the  tumult,  made  a  sortie,  and 
uniting  themselves  with  the  soldiers  of  Noureddin,  who 
hastened  towards  the  city,  gained  possession  of  the  gates 
by  which  the  Christians  were  issuing.  Many  severe  con- 
flicts were  here  maintained,  of  which  darkness  increased  the 
horrors.  The  Christians  succeeded  in  opening  themselves 
a  passage,  and  spread  themselves  about  in  the  neighbouring 
fields.  They  who  carried  arms  united  in  battalions,  and  en- 
deavoured to  pass  through  the  camp  of  the  enemy  ;  whilst 
others,  separated  from  the  troop  of  warriors,  went  on  at 
hazard,  wandered  about  the  plains,  and  everywhere  found 
death  following  their  footsteps.  Whilst  relating  the  events 
of  this  horrible  night,  William  of  Tyre  cannot  restrain  his 
tears.  "  Oh  disastrous  night !  "  cries  the  historian  Aboul- 
farage,  "  da^-n  of  hell,  day  without  pity,  day  of  misfortune 
which  arose  upon  the  children  of  a  city  formerly  worthy  of 
envy!  "  In  Edessa,  out  of  Edessa,  nothing  was  heard  but 
cries  of  death.  The  warriors  who  had  formed  battalions, 
after  having  pierced  through  the  army  of  the  infidels,  were 
pursued  as  far  as  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates,  and  the  roads 
were  strewed  with  their  remains,  their  arms,  and  their  bag- 
gage. Only  a  thousand  of  them  succeeded  in  gaining  the 
city  of  Samosata,  which  received  them  within  its  walls,  and 
deplored  their  misfortunes,  without  being  able  to  avenge 
them. 

History  relates  that  more  than  thirty  thousand  Christians 
were  slaughtered  by  the  soldiers  of  Zengui  and  Noureddin. 
Sixteen  thousand  were  made  prisoners,  and  dragged  out 
their  lives  in  misery  and  slavery.  Noureddin  in  his  ven- 
geance did  not  spare  either  the  ramparts  or  buildings  of  a 
rebel  city  ;  he  razed  the  towers,  the  citadel,  and  the  churches 
of  Edessa  to  the  ground.  He  banished  all  the  Christians 
from  it,  and  left  nothing  but  a  few  mendicants  to  dwell 
amidst  the  ruins  of  their  country. 

Zengiii  had  been  considered  as  a  saint,  as  a  warrior 
beloved  by  Mahomet,  for  having  conquered  the  city  of 
Edessa ;  the  blood-stained  expedition  of  Noureddin  rendered 
him  dear  to  the  Mussulmans,  contributed  much  to  the  exten- 
sion of  his  renown  and  his  power,  and  already  the  Imans 


328  HISTOEY   OF   THE    CEUSADES. 

and  the  poets  promised  to  his  arms  the  much  more  glorious 
conquest  of  Jerusalem. 

The  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  and  other  Christian  cities 
shed  tears  of  despair  on  learning  the  fall  and  destruction  of 
Edessa,  sinister  presages  adding  much  to  the  terror  which 
the  news  from  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates  inspired  them 
^vith.  Thunder  fell  upon  the  churches  of  the  Holy  Sepul- 
chre and  Mount  Sion ;  a  comet  with  shining  hair  was  seen 
in  the  heavens,  and  spread  general  consternation ;  several 
other  signs  appeared,  says  William  of  Tyre,  contrary  to  cus- 
tom, and  out  of  time,  indicative  of  future  things.  As  a 
c^o^vning  misfortune,  Eodolphe,  chancellor  of  Jerusalem, 
was  taken  by  force  to  the  siege  of  Tyre,  and  scandal  pre- 
vailed in  the  sanctuary.  All  the  faithful  of  the  East  were 
persuaded  that  Heaven  had  declared  itself  against  them,  and 
that  horrible  calamities  were  about  to  fall  upon  the  Christian 
people. 


BOOK    VL 


SECOND    CRUSADE. 

A.D.  1142—1148. 

The  Christian  colonies,  threatened  by  the  Mussuhnans, 
called  upon  the  princes  of  Europe  to  assist  them.  The 
bishop  of  Gaballa  in  Syria,  accompanied  by  a  great  number 
of  priests  and  knights,  repaired  to  Yiterbo,  where  the  sove- 
reign pontiff  then  resided.  The  recitals  of  the  Christian 
embassy  not  only  caused  tears  to  flow  from  the  eyes  of  the 
chief  of  the  faithful ;  the  misfortunes  of  Edessa,  and  the 
impending  dangers  of  Jerusalem  excited  universal  commise- 
ration and  dread.  Cries  of  alarm  were  raised  throughout 
Europe.  Eorty-five  years  had  passed  away  since  the  deli- 
verance of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  yet  the  minds  of  men  were 
not  at  all  changed,  and  eagerly,  as  at  the  first  crusade,  they 
flew  to  arms.  In  this  instance  it  was  principally  the  voice 
of  St.  Bernard  that  excited  the  nations  and  kings  of  Chris- 
tendom to  range  themselves  under  the  banners  of  the  cross. 
Born  of  a  noble  family  of  Burgundy,  St.  Bernard,  whilst  yet 
in  the  dawn  of  manhood,  had,  with  thirty  relations  and  com- 
panions whom  his  discourses  and  his  example*  influenced, 
secluded  himself  in  the  monastery  of  Citteaux.  He  was 
sent  two  years  after  to  Clairvaux,  a  then  unknown  retreat, 
which  he  Advified  with  his  presence,  and  rendered  one  of  the 
most  celebrated  monasteries  of  Christendom.  Many  of  the 
most  learned  doctors  consulted  the  wisdom  of  the  abbot  of 

*  Godfrey,  who  was  abbot  of  Clairvaux  after  St.  Bernard,  has  left  us 
a  life  of  this  saint,  in  which  he  does  not  speak  of  the  crusade  ;  the  reason 
of  this  is  that  St.  Bernard  was  reproached  with  the  crusade,  and  that  his 
panegj'rist  thence  thouf^ht  proper  to  pass  over  this  remarkable  epoch. 
We  have  several  other  lives  of  St.  Bernard ;  the  best  and  most  complete 
is  that  which  is  printed  in  La  France  Litteraire. 


330  HISTOET   OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

Clairvaux,  and  several  councils  bowed  to  his  decisions.  By 
the  power  of  his  eloquence  alone  he  humbled  the  anti-pope 
Leo,  and  placed  Innocent  II.  in  the  chair  of  St.  Peter. 
Pope  Innocent  III.  and  Abbot  Suger  were  his  disciples. 
Prelates,  princes,  and  monarchs  glorified  themselves  in  fol- 
lowing his  counsels,  believing  that  God  spoke  by  his  mouth. 

"When  the  ambassadors  from  the  East  arrived  in  Europe, 
Louis  YII.  had  just  ascended  the  throne  of  France.  The 
reign  of  this  young  monarch  begau  under  the  most  happy 
auspices.  Most  of  the  great  vassals  who  had  revolted 
against  the  roval  authority  had  laid  down  their  arms  and 
renounced  their  pretensions.  By  a  marriage  with  the 
dau2:hter  of  AVilliam  IX.,  Louis  had  added  the  duchy  of 
Aquitaine  to  his  kingdom.  France,  in  her  enlarged  con- 
dition, had  nothing  to  fear  from  neighbouring  states,  and 
whilst  civil  wars  were  desolating  both  England  and  Grer- 
many,  she  flourished  in  peace  under  the  administration  of 
Suger. 

Peace  was  not  for  a  moment  disturbed  but  by  the  unjust 
pretensions  of  the  pope  and  bv  the  intrigues  of  Thibaut, 
count  of  Champagne,  who  took  advantage  of  the  ascendancy 
he  had  over  the  clergy  to  direct  the  thunders  of  the  Church 
against  his  sovereign.  Louis  resisted  the  attempts  of  the 
Holy  See  ^vith  firmness,  and  was  determined  to  punish  a 
rebellious  and  dangerous  vassal.  Urged  on  by  a  spirit  of 
blind  revenge,  he  carried  fire  and  sword  through  the  states 
of  Thibaut ;  he  besieged  A'itri ;  was  himself  first  in  the 
assault,  and  put  to  the  sword  every  inhabitant  to  be  met 
with  in  the  city.  A  great  number  of  persons  of  all  ages 
had  taken  refuge  in  a  church,  hoping  to  find  the  altar  a 
secure  asylum  against  the  anger  of  a  Christian  prince  ;  but 
Louis  set  fire  to  the  church,  and  thirteen  hundred  people 
perished  in  the  flames.  An  action  so  barbarous  spread  ter- 
ror among  the  nation  whom  Louis  was  appointed  to  render 
happv ;  when  he  returned  from  this  expedition  to  his  capi- 
tal, the  people  received  him  in  melancholy  silence ;  his 
ministers  allowed  him  to  read  their  regret  in  the  dejection 
of  their  countenances ;  and  St.  Bernard,  like  another  Am- 
brosius,  boldly  compelled  him  to  hear  the  complaints  of 
religion  and  outraged  humanity. 

In  an  eloquent  letter,  he  represented  to  the  monarch  the 


HISTOKY   OF   THE    CRTTSADES.  331 

country  desolated,  and  pointed  to  the  Church  despised  and 
trampled  under  foot.  "I  will  fight  for  her,"  he  said,  "to 
the  death ;  but  instead  of  bucklers  and  swords,  I  will  em- 
ploy the  arms  which  become  me — my  tears  and  my  sprayers 
to  Gody  At  the  voice  of  the  holy  abbot,  Louis  became 
sensible  of  his  error ;  and  the  dread  of  the  anger  of  Heaven 
made  such  a  lively  impression  upon  his  mind,  that  he  sank 
into  a  deep  and  alarming  depression.  He  believed  he  saw 
the  hand  of  God  ready  to  strike  him;  he  renounced  all 
pleasures,  and  abandoned  even  the  care  of  his  authority,  in 
order  to  devote  himself  to  grief  and  tears.  The  abbot  of 
Clairvaux,  who  had  awakened  his  remorse,  was  obliged  to 
calm  his  spirits  and  reanimate  his  courage,  by  representing 
to  him  the  great  mercy  of  Grod.  The  king  of  Prance  re- 
covered from  his  remorseless  dejection ;  but  as  in  the 
opinion  of  his  age  great  crimes  could  only  be  absolved  by 
a  voyage  to  the  Holy  Land,  his  earnest  desire  to  expiate 
the  tragical  death  of  the  inhabitants  of  Yitri  made  him  form 
the  resolution  of  going  to  combat  against  the  infidels. 

Louis  YII.  convoked  an  assembly  at  Bourges,  at  which  he 
made  his  project  known  to  the  principal  nobility  and  the 
clergy.  Grodfrey,  bishop  of  Langres,  applauded  his  zeal, 
and  in  a  pathetic  discourse  deplored  the  captivity  of  Edessa, 
and  the  dangers  and  disasters  of  the  Eastern  Christians. 
His  eloquence  moved  his  auditors-;  but  the  oracle  of  the 
assembly,  he  who  held  all  hearts  in  his  hand,  had  not  yet 
spoken.  Whether  that  he  was  yet  not  convinced  of  the 
utility  of  the  crusade,  or  that  he  was  desirous  of  giving  it 
more  solemnity,  St.  Bernard  advised  the  king  of  Erance  to 
consult  the  Holy  See  before  he  undertook  anj^thing.  This 
advice  was  generally  approved  of.  Louis  sent  ambassadors 
to  Rome,  and  resolved  to  convoke  a  new  assembly  as  soon 
as  he  should  have  received  the  answer  of  the  sovereign 
pontiff. 

Eugenius  III.,  who  then  filled  the  chair  of  St.  Peter,  had 
already  in  several  of  his  letters  solicited  the  assistance  of 
the  faithful  against  the  Saracens.  The  Holy  See  had  never 
had  stronger  motives  for  the  preaching  of  a  crusade.  A 
spirit  of  sedition  and  heresy  was  beginning  to  insinuate 
itself  among  the  people,  and  even  among  the  clergy  of  the 
West,  threatening  at  the  same  time  the  power  of  the  popea 

Vol.  L— 16 


332  HISTOET    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

and  the  doctrines  of  the  Church.  Eugenius  had  to  contend 
against  the  troubles  excited  by  Arnold  of  Bressia;  and 
nothing  was  talked  of  in  the  capital  of  the  Christian  world 
but  rebuilding  the  Capitol,  and  substituting  for  the  pontifical 
authoritv  that  of  the  consuls  and  tribunes  of  ancient  Eome. 
In  such  a  state  of  things,  a  great  event  like  that  of  a  crusade 
was  hkelv  to  turn  men's  minds  from  dansrerous  novelties, 
and  make  them  rallv  round  the  sanctuarv.  The  sovereiom 
pontiif  could  not  avoid  seeing  in  a  holy  war  the  double 
advantage  of  defending  Jerusalem  against  the  enterprises  of 
the  Saracens,  and  the  Chui'ch  and  himself  against  the  attacks 
of  heretics  and  innovators.  Eugenius  congratulated  the 
king  of  Prance  on  his  pious  determination,  and  bj  his 
letters  again  exhorted  all  Christians  to  assume  the  cross 
and  take  up  arms,  promising  them  the  same  privileges  and 
the  same  rewards  that  Urban  II.  had  granted  to  the  war- 
riors of  the  first  crusade.  Detained  in  Italy,  where  he  was 
engaged  m  appeasmg  the  troubles  of  Eome,  he  regretted 
not  being  able,  as  Urban  had  done,  to  cross  the  Alps,  and 
reanimate  the  zeal  of  the  faitliful  by  his  presence  and  his 
discourses  ;  but  he  confided  to  St.  Bernard  the  honourable 
mission  of  preaching  the  crusade  in  France  and  G-ermany. 

After  having  received  the  approbation  of  the  Holy  See, 
Louis  convoked  a  new  assembly  at  Yezelai,  a  little  city  of 
Burgundy ;  and  the  reputation  of  St.  Bernard  and  the  letters 
addressed  by  the  pope  to  all  Christendom,  drew  to  this 
assembly  a  great  number  of  nobles,  knights,  prelates,  and 
men  of  all  conditions.  On  the  Palm-Sunday,  after  having 
invoked  the  Holy  Grhost,  all  who  had  come  to  hear  the  abbot 
of  Clairvaux  repaired  to  the  side  of  a  hill  just  without  the 
gates  of  the  city.  A  large  tribune  was  erected,  in  which 
the  king  in  his  royal  robes,  and  St.  Bernard  in  the  humble 
costume  of  a  cenobite,  were  saluted  bv  the  acclamations  of 
an  immense  multitude.  The  orator  of  the  crusade  first  read  • 
the  letters  of  the  sovereign  pontift',  and  then  spoke  to  his 
auditors  of  the  taking  of  Edessa  by  the  Saracens,  and  of  the 
desolation  of  the  holy  places.  He  showed  them  the  universe 
plunged  in  terror  on  learning  that  God  had  begun  to  desert 
his  beloved  land  ;*  he  represented  to  them  the  city  of  Sion  as 

*  Commota  est  quidem  et  contremuit  terra,  quia  coepit  Deus  coeli  per- 
dere  terram  suam. — St.  Bernard,  epist,  cccxxii. 


HISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  333 

imploring  their  succour,  Christ  as  ready  to  immoLkte  himself 
a  second  time  for  them,  and  the  heavenly  Jerusalem  opening 
all  its  gates  to  receive  the  glorious  martyrs  of  the  faith. 
"You  cannot  but  know,"  said  he  to  them,  "we  live  in  a 
period  of  chastisement  and  ruin ;  the  enemy  of  mankind  has 
caused  the  breath  of  corruption  to  fly  over  all  regions ;  we 
behold  nothing  but  unpunished  wickedness.  The  laws  of 
men  or  the  laws  of  religion  have  no  longer  sufficient  power 
to  check  depravity  of  manners  and  the  triumph  of  the  wicked. 
The  demon  of  heresy  has  taken  possession  of  the  chair  of 
truth,  and  God  has  sent  forth  his  malediction  upon  his  sanc- 
tuary. Oh,  ye  who  listen  to  me !  hasten  then  to  appease 
the  anger  of  Heaven,  but  no  longer  implore  his  goodness  by 
vain  complaints  ;  clothe  not  yourselves  in  sackcloth,  but  cover 
yourselves  with  your  impenetrable  bucklers  ;  the  din  of  arms, 
the  dangers,  the  labours,  the  fatigues  of  war  are  the  penances 
that  Grod  now  imposes  on  you.  Hasten  then  to  expiate  your 
sins  by  victories  over  the  infidels,  and  let  the  deliverance  of 
the  holy  places  be  the  reward  of  your  repentance." 

These  words  of  the  orator  excited  the  greatest  enthusiasm 
in  the  assembly  of  the  faithful,  and,  like  Urban  at  the  coun- 
cil of  Clermont,  St.  Bernard  was  interrupted  by  the  repeated 
cries  of  ^^  It  is  the  will  of  God!  It  is  the  will  of  God  V 
Then  raising  his  voice,  as  if  he  had  been  the  interpreter  of 
the  will  of  Heaven,  he  promised  them,  in  the  name  of  Grod, 
success  to  their  holy  expedition,  and  thus  continued  his 
discourse : — 

"  If  it  were  announced  to  you  that  the  enemy  had  in- 
vaded your  cities,  your  castles,  and  your  lands,  had  ravished 
your  wives  and  your  daughters,  and  profaned  your  temples, 
which  among  you  would  not  fly  to  arms  ?  AVell,  then,  all 
these  calamities,  and  calamities  still  greater,  have  fallen  upon 
your  brethren,  upon  the  family  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  is 
yours.  Why  do  you  hesitate  to  repair  so  many  evils — to 
revenge  so  many  outrages  ?  Will  you  allow  the  infidels  to 
contemplate  in  peace  the  ravages  they  have  committed  on 
Christian  people  ?  Eemember  that  their  triumph  will  be  a 
subject  for  grief  to  all  ages,  and  an  eternal  opprobrium  upon 
the  generation  that  has  endured  it.  Yes,  the  living  Grod  has 
charged  me  to  announce  to  you  that  he  will  punish  them 
who  shall  not  have  defended  him  against  his  enemies.     Fly 


334  nisTOKY  or  the  ceusaues. 

then  to  arms  ;  let  a  liolr  rage  animate  you  in  the  fight ;  and 
let  the  Christian  world  resound  with  these  words  of  the 
prophet,  '  Cursed  he  Tie  who  does  'not  stain  his  sword  tvith 
hlood ! '  If  the  Lord  calls  jou  to  the  defence  of  his  heri- 
tage, think  not  that  his  hand  has  lost  its  power.*  Could  he 
not  send  twelve  legions  of  angels,  or  breathe  one  word,  and 
all  his  enemies  would  crumble  away  into  dust  ?  But  God 
has  considered  the  sons  of  men,  to  open  for  them  the  road 
to  his  mercy.  His  goodness  has  caused  to  dawn  for  you  a 
day  of  safety,  by  calling  on  you  to  avenge  his  glory  and  his 
name.  Christian  wamors,  he  who  gave  his  life  for  you,  to- 
day demands  yours  in  return.  These  are  combats  worthy  of 
you,  combats  in  which  it  is  glorious  to  conquer,  and  advan- 
tageous to  die.  Illustrious  knights,  generous  defenders  of 
the  cross,  remember  the  example  of  your  fathers  who  con- 
quered Jerusalem,  and  whose  names  are  inscribed  in  heaven; 
abandon  then  the  things  that  perish  to  gather  eternal  palms, 
and  conquer  a  kingdom  which  has  no  end." 

All  the  barons  and  knights  applauded  the  eloquence  of  St. 
Bernard,  and  were  persuaded  that  he  had  but  uttered  the 
will  of  Grod.  Louis  YII.,  deeply  moved  by  the  words  he 
had  heard,  cast  himself,  in  the  presence  of  all  the  people, 
at  the  feet  of  St.  Bernard  and  demanded  the  Cross.  Clothed 
with  this  revered  sign,  he  himself  addressed  the  assembly  of 
the  faithful,  to  exhort  them  to  follow  his  example.  In  his 
discourse  he  showed  them  the  impious  Philistine  casting  op- 
probrium upon  the  house  of  Da\'id,  and  reminded  them  of  the 
holy  determination  which  God  himself  had  inspired  in  him. 
He  invoked,  in  the  name  of  the  Christians  of  the  East,  the  aid 
of  that  generous  nation  of  which  he  was  the  chief ;  of  that 
nation  which  would  not  endure  shame  when  directed  at 
itself  or  its  allies,  and  which  always  carried  terror  amidst 
the  enemies  of  its  worship  or  its  glory.  At  this  discourse 
the  whole  auditory  was  melted  in  tears.  The  touching  piety 
of  the  monarch  persuaded  all  who  had  not  been  convinced 
by  the  eloquence  of  St.  Bernard.  The  hill  upon  which  this 
vast  multitude  was  assembled,  resounded  for  a  length  of 
time  with  the  cries  of  ^^  It  is  the  will  of  God!  It  is  the 

*  Nunquid  potest  mittere  angelorura  plusquam  duodecim  legiones,  aut 
certe  dicere  verbo,  et  liberabitur  terra  sua  .'* — St.  Bernard,  epist.  cccxxii. 


HISTOIir   OF   THE    CHUSADES.  335 

loillof  God!''  and  ''the  Cross!  tlie  Cross!''  Eleanor  of 
Guienne,  who  accompanied  Louis,  received,  as  his  wife,  the 
sign  of  the  cross  from  the  hands  of  the  abbot  of  Clairvaux. 
Alphonso,  count  of  St.  Gilles  de  Thoulouse,  Henry,  son  of 
Thibaut,  count  of  Champagne,  Thieri,  count  of  Elanders, 
William  of  Nevers,  Kenaud,  count  de  Tenniere,  Yves,  count 
de  Soissons,  William,  count  de  Panthien,  William,  count  de 
Varennes,  Archanbaud  de  Bourbon,  Enguerard  de  Coucy, 
Hugh  de  Lusignan,  the  count  de  Dreux,  brother  of  the 
king,  his  uncle  the  count  de  Maurinne,  and  a  crowd  of 
barons  and  knights  followed  the  example  of  Louis  and 
Eleanor.  Several  bishops,  among  whom  history  remarks 
Simon,  bishop  of  ISToyon,  Grodfrey,  bishop  of  Langres,  Alain, 
bishop  of  Arras,  and  Arnold,  bishop  of  Lisieux,  threw  them- 
selves at  the  feet  of  St.  Bernard,  taking  the  oath  to  fight 
against  the  infidels.  The  crosses  which  the  abbot  of  Clair- 
vaux  had  brought  were  not  sufiicient  for  the  great  number 
who  claimed  them.  He  tore  his  vestments  to  make  more, 
and  several  of  those  who  surrounded  him,  in  their  turns, 
tore  their  clothes  into  strips  in  order  to  satisfy  the  impa- 
tience of  all  the  faithful  whom  he  had  inflamed  with  a  desire 
for  the  holy  war. 

To  preserve  the  memory  of  this  day.  Pons,  abbot  of  Veze- 
lai,  founded  upon  the  hill  where  the  knights  and  barons  had 
assembled,  a  church,  which  he  dedicated  to  the  holy  cross.f 
The  tribune,  from  the  top  of  which  St.  Bernard  had  preached 
the  crusade,  remained  there  a  long  time  the  object  of  the 
veneration  of  the  faithful. 

After  the  assembly  of  Yezelai,  the  abbot  of  Clairvaux 
continued  to  preach  the  crusade  in  the  cities  and  neighbour- 
ing countries.  Prance  soon  resounded  with  the  fame  of  the 
miracles  by  which  Grod  seemed  to  authorize  and  consecrate, 
in  some  sort,  his  mission.  He  was  everywhere  considered 
as  the  messenger  of  Heaven,  as  another  Moses,  who  was  to 
conduct  the  people  of  Grod.  All  the  Christians  were  per- 
suaded that  the  success  of  the  enterprise  depended  upon  St. 
Bernard,  and  in  an  assembly  held  at  Chartres,  in  which  were 
met  several  barons  and  princes,  illustrious  by  their  exploits, 

*  The  pulpit  from  which  St.  Bernard  preached  the  crusade  remained  in 
the  church  of  Vezelai  until  the  period  of  the  revolution  of  1789. 


336  nisroET  of  the  csrsADEs. 

it  ^vas  resolved  by  unanimous  consent,  to  give  him  the  com- 
mand of  the  holy  war.  The  Crusaders,  they  said,  could 
never  fail  to  be  victorious  under  the  laws  of  a  leader  to 
whom  God  appeared  to  have  coniided  his  omnipotence.  The 
abbot  of  Clairvaux,  who  remembered  the  example  of  Peter 
the  hei-mit,  refused  the  perilous  employment  with  which 
thev  desired  to  honour  him ;  he  was  even  so  much  terri- 
fied by  the  pressing  entreaties  of  the  barons  and  knights, 
that  he  addressed  himself  to  the  pope,  and  conjured  the 
sovereign  pontiff  not  to  abandon  him  to  the  fantasies  of  men. 

The  pope  answered  St.  Bernard  that  he  only  need  arm 
himself  with  the  sword  of  the  word  of  God,  and  content  him- 
self with  sounding  the  evangelical  trumpet  to  announce  the 
war.  The  abbot  of  Clairvaux  employed  himself  in  nothing 
thereafter,  but  his  mission  ;  and  he  acquitted  himself  with 
so  much  zeal,  and  his  preachings  produced  such  an  extraor- 
dinary, and  I  will  venture  to  add,  so  unfortunate  an  effect, 
that  they  depopulated  cities  and  countries.  He  wrote  to 
Pope  Eugenius  :  "  The  villages  and  the  castles  are  deserted  ; 
and  there  are  none  left  hut  widows  and  orphans,  ivhose  hus- 
bands and  parents  are  still  living.''^ 

"While  St.  Bernard  was  thus  preaching  the  crusade  in  the 
pro"vinces  of  Prance,  a  German  monk,  named  Eodolphe,  ex- 
horted the  people  of  the  Ehine  to  massacre  the  Jews,  whom 
he  represented  in  his  vehement  discourses  as  the  allies  of  the 
Saracens,  and  the  most  dangerous  enemies  of  the  Christian 
religion.  The  abbot  of  Clairvaux  fearing  the  effect  of  these 
preachings,  hastened  into  Germany  to  impose  silence  on  this 
seditious  apostle  of  the  holy  war.  As  the  German  monk 
had  flattered  the  passions  of  the  multitude,  St.  Bernard  re- 
quired all  the  ascendancy  of  liis  virtue  and  his  fame  to  com- 
bat his  doctrines.  He  ventured  to  raise  his  voice  in  the 
midst  of  an  -irritated  people,  and  to  make  them  feel  that 
Christians  ought  not  to  persecute  Jews,  but  pray  to  Heaven 
for  their  con\'ersion ;  that  it  belonged  to  Christian  piety  to 
pardon  the  weak,  and  make  war  against  the  exalted  and 
proud.  The  preacher  of  the  crusade  at  length  silenced  the 
turbulent  orator,  and  sent  him  back  to  his  monastery,  re- 
minding him  that  the  duty  of  monks  was  not  to  preach,  but 
to  weep  ;  that  they  ought  to  consider  cities  as  jy^^i^ons,  and 
solitude  as  their  paradise. 


HISTOET   OF   THE    CRUSADES.  337 

This  action  of  St.  Bernard,*  wMch  was  scarcely  observed  in 
his  own  barbarous  age,  and  which  has  been  turned  into  ridi- 
cule in  ours,  does  honour  to  his  character,  and  may  excuse 
the  extravagant  zeal  he  displayed  for  a  disastrous  war. 
AVhen  he  arrived  in  Grermany,  the  Grermanic  empire  was  be- 
ginning to  breathe  after  the  long  troubles  that  had  followed 
the  election  of  Lothaii'e.  Conrad  III.,  clothed  with  the 
purple,  had  just  convoked  a  general  diet  at  Spires.  The 
abbot  of  Clairvaux  repaired  thither  with  the  intention  of 
preaching  war  against  the  Mussulmans,  and  peace  among 
Christian  princes.  St.  Bernard  pressed  the  emperor,  Con- 
rad, several  times  to  take  up  the  cross  ;  he  at  first  exhorted 
him  in  private  conferences,  and  afterwards  renewed  his 
exhortations  in  sermons  preached  in  public.  Conrad  could 
not  make  up  his  mind  to  take  the  oath  to  go  and  fight 
against  the  infidels  in  Asia,  alleging  the  recent  troubles  of 
the  Grerman  empires.  St.  Bernard  replied  that  the  Holy 
See  liad  placed  him  upon  the  imperial  throne,  and  that  the 
pope  and  the  Church  would  support  their  work.  "  Whilst 
you  shall  defend  his  heritage,  God  himself  will  take  care  to 
defend  yours  ;  he  will  govern  your  people,  and  your  reign 
will  be  the  object  of  his  love."  The  more  hesitation  the 
emperor  felt,  the  warmer  became  the  zeal  and  eloquence  of 
St.  Bernard  to  persuade  him.  One  day  as  the  orator  of  the 
crusade  was  saying  mass  before  the  princes  and  lords  con- 
voked at  Spires,  all  at  once  he  interrupted  the  service  to 
preach  the  war  against  the  infidels.  Towards  the  end  of  his 
discourse,  he  transported  the  imagination  of  his  auditors  to 
the  day  of  judgment,  and  made  them  hear  the  trumpets 
which  were  to  call  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  before  the 
tribunal  of  Grod.  Jesus  Christ,  armed  with  his  cross  and 
surrounded  by  his  angels,  addressing  himself  to  the  emperor 
of  Grermany,  recalled  to  him  all  the  benefits  with  which  he 
had  loaded  him,  and  reproached  him  with  ingratitude.  Con- 
rad was  so  much  aflected  by  this  vehement  apostrophe,  that 
he  interrupted  the  speaker,  and,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  cried 

*  The  Abbe  Velly  thus  relates  the  same  fact: — "Satisfied  mth  the 
character  of  preacher  and  thaumaturge  (performer  of  miracles),  St.  Ber- 
nard set  out  for  Germany,  where  he  put  to  silence  another  monk,  who, 
without  having  the  authority  of  the  pope,  dared  to  exhort  the  Christian 
nations  to  take  up  arms  for  the  assistance  of  their  brethren  in  Asia." 


338  HiSTOET  or  the  ceusades. 

out :  "  I  Jcnoio  icliat  I  owe  to  Jesus  Christ,  and  I  swear  to  go 
icherever  he  shall  call  me'"'  Then  the  nobles  and  the  people 
who  believed  thev  had  been  witnesses  of  a  miracle,  threw 
themselves  on  their  knees  and  returned  thanks  to  God  for 
his  blessings.  Conrad  received  from  the  hands  of  the  abbot 
of  Clairvaux  the  emblem  of  the  Crusaders,  together  with  a 
flag  which  was  placed  upon  the  altar,  and  which  Heaven 
itself  had  blessed.  A  great  number  of  barons  and  knights 
assumed  the  cross  in  imitation  of  Conrad,  and  the  diet  which 
had  been  assembled  to  deHberate  upon  the  interests  of  the 
empire,  was  occupied  entirely  with  the  safety  of  the  Chris- 
tian colonies  in  Asia. 

A  new  diet  was  convoked  in  Bavaria,  where  the  letters  of 
St.  Bernard  determined  a  great  number  of  bishops  and  Ger- 
man nobles  to  take  the  cross.  Ladislas,  duke  of  Bohemia, 
Odoacer,  marquis  of  Svria,  Bernard,  count  of  Carinthia, 
Amadeus,  duke  of  Tiu-in,  and  the  marquis  de  Montferrat 
took  the  oath  to  go  into  the  East  to  fight  the  Saracens. 
Among  the  prelates  who  enrolled  themselves  under  the  ban- 
ners of  the  Cross,  history  names  the  bishop  of  Passau,  the 
bishop  of  Eatisbon,  and  the  ^ise  Otho  of  Frisingen,  brother 
of  the  emperor,  to  whom  posterity  owes  a  relation  of  the 
principal  events  of  this  war. 

The  most  dear  interests,  the  most  tender  affections  had 
no  power  to  detain  the  knights  and  princes  in  their  coun- 
tries and  homes.  Frederick,  nephew  of  the  emperor,  who 
had  taken  the  cross,  allowed  himself  not  to  be  moved  by  the 
teai's  of  his  aged  father,  the  duke  of  Suabia,  who  died  Tvitli 
grief,  in  spite  of  the  consolations  of  St.  Bernard.  A  war- 
crv  was  heard  from  the  Bhine  to  the  Danube ;  Germanv, 
althoug:h  so  lon^  asdtated  bv  its  o\nti  troubles,  found  in  all 
parts  warriors  for  the  holy  expedition.  Men  of  all  condi- 
tions obeyed  the  voice  of  the  preacher  of  the  holy  war,  and 
followed  the  example  of  kings  and  princes :  a  thing  to  be 
wondered  at,  says  Otho  of  Frisingen,  thieves  and  robbers 
were  seen  performing  penance,  and  swearing  to  shed  their 
blood  for  Jesus  Cluist.  "Everv  reasonable  man,"  adds  the 
same  historian,  '•'  a  witness  of  the  changes  that  were  ope- 
rated in  them,  plainly  perceived  the  work  of  God,  and  was 
not  the  less  astonished  at  it." 

The  Germans  were  so  easily  persuaded,  that  they  came 


HISTOET   OF    THE    CEUSADES.  339 

and  listened  to  the  abbot  of  Clairvaux,  wlio  preached  to  them 
in  a  language  they  did  not  understand,  and  returned  con- 
vinced of  the  truth  and  holiness  of  the  discourse.  The 
sight  of  a  preacher  so  much  reverenced,  appeared  to  bestovv^ 
a  marvellous  sense  upon  every  one  of  his  "words.  The  mira- 
cles which  were  attributed  to  him,  and  which  were  performed 
sometimes  in  private,  sometimes  in  public,  as  Otho  of  Fri- 
singen  says,  were  like  a  divine  language  which  warmed  the 
most  indifferent,  and  persuaded  the  most  iacredulous.  Shep- 
herds and  labourers  abandoned  the  fields  to  follow  him  into 
towns  and  cities ;  when  he  arrived  in  a  city,  all  laboiu-s  were 
suspended.  The  war  against  the  infidels,,  and  the  prodigies 
by  which  God  promised  his  protection  to  the  soldiers  of  the 
cross,  became  the  only  business  of  men  of  all  classes.  Some- 
times the  abbot  of  Clairvaux  assembled  the  clergy,  and 
preached  reform  in  their  manners ;  sometimes  he  addressed 
the  people  and  animated  them  against  the  Saracens. 

St.  Bernard  Adsited  all  the  cities  of  the  Rhine,  from  Con- 
stance to  Maestricht ;  in  each  city,  say  the  ancient  chroni- 
cles, he  restored  sight  to  the  blind,  hearing  to  the  deaf,  and 
cured  the  lame  and  the  sick ;  they  report  thirty-six  miracles 
performed  in  one  day,  at  each  prodigy  the  multitude  crying 
out,*  "  Jesus  Christ,  have  mercy  upon  us !  all  the  saints,  suc- 
cour us!"  The  disciples  who  followed  the  abbot  of  Clair- 
vaux could  not  help  regretting  that  the  tumult  which  was 
constantly  raised  upon  his  passage,  prevented  their  seeing 
several  of  his  miracles. t  Every  day  an  increasing  crowd 
pressed  around  him.  History  relates  that  he  was  once  on 
the  point  of  being  stifled  by  the  multitude  w^hich  followed 

*  These  exclamations  were  pronounced  in  old  German  : — Christ  uns 
gende,  die  heiligen  alle  helffen  uns. 

t  Philip,  archdeacon  of  Liege,  afterwards  a  monk  of  Clairvaux,  has 
made  a  detailed  relation  of  the  miracles  of  St.  Bernard,  from  the  first 
Sunday  in  Advent,  the  first  day  of  December,  1146,  to  Thursday,  the 
second  day  of  the  following  January.  In  his  relations  he  produces  ten 
ocular  witnesses,  whose  names  he  gives.  Le  Pere  Maimbourg,  in  his 
History  of  the  Crusades,  does  not  appear  to  believe  in  the  authenticity  of 
the  miracles  of  St.  Bernard  ;  the  author  of  the  Life  of  Suger,  3  vols,  in 
12mo.,  sharply  reproves  Maimbourg  for  his  incredulity.  We  do  not  think 
it  at  all  necessary  to  go  into  this  question ;  we  believe  it  to  be  quite  suffi- 
cient to  know  that  the  contemporaries  of  St.  Bernard  had  faith  in  his 
miracles,  and  that  this  faith  made  them  perform  things  which  simple 
reason  might  call  miraculous. 

16* 


340  HISTOET    OF   THE    CETJSADES. 

Ms  steps,  and  only  owed  liis  safety  to  the  emperor  of  Ger- 
many, Avho  took  him  in  his  arms,  and  drove  back  the  people, 
who  were  impatient  to  see  and  touch  him  whom  they  re- 
garded as  the  interpreter  and  messenger  of  God. 

After  having  set  German}^  in  a  blaze  ^vith  his  preaching, 
and  revived  the  zeal  of  the  countries  of  Italy  by  his  pathetic 
letters,  St.  Bernard  returned  to  Trance,  to  announce  the 
success  of  his  mission.  His  absence  had  suspended  every- 
thing, and  that  multitude  of  Crusaders,  upon  whom  his  elo- 
quence had  acted  so  powerfully,  appeared  to  have  neither 
chief,  direction,  nor  rallying-point  whilst  he  was  not  in  the 
midst  of  them.  The  king  of  France  and  the  nobles  of  the 
kingdom,  assembled  at  Etampes,  had  formed  no  resolution  ; 
but  the  return  of  St.  Bernard  restored  life  to  the  councils 
of  the  princes  and  the  barons,  and  made  them  resume  with 
new  ardour  the  enterprise  of  the  holy  war. 

When  he  made,  before  the  lords  and  prelates,  the  recital 
of  his  journey,  and  of  the  prodigies  God  had  effected  by 
his  hand;  when  he  spoke  of  the  determination  he  had 
induced  the  emperor  of  Germany  to  form,  a  determination 
which  he  called  the  miracle  of  miracles,  all  hearts  expanded 
with  enthusiasm,  and  were  filled  with  hope  and  joy. 

At  the  same  time  several  ambassadors  appeared  in  the 
assembly  of  Etampes,  to  announce  that  their  princes  had 
determined  to  enrol  themselves  under  the  banners  of  the 
cross ;  and  letters  were  read  from  distant  countries,  by 
which  a  great  number  of  foreign  lords  and  barons  promised 
to  join  the  Erench  in  their  projected  expedition  against  the 
Saracens.  Erom  that  period  no  doubt  was  entertained  of 
the  happy  results  of  the  crusade ;  and  the  zeal  which  was 
displayed  by  all  the  nations  of  Europe  was  considered  as  a 
manifest  expression  of  the  will  of  Heaven. 

Among  the  ambassadors  who  were  present  at  the  assembly 
of  Etampes  were  some  from  Roger,  king  of  Apulia  and 
Sicily,  who  offered  the  Crusaders  vessels  and  provisions,  and 
promised  to  send  his  son  with  them  to  the  Holy  Land,  if 
they  determined  to  go  by  sea.  The  Sicilian  deputies  re- 
minded the  king  of  France  and  his  barons  of  the  perfidy  of 
the  Greeks  towards  the  Franks  in  the  first  crusade.  "  Tou 
may,"  said  they,  "brave  the  forces  of  the  most  powerful 
nations,  but  nothing  can  secure  you  against  the  artifices  and 


HISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  341 

macHnations  of  a  deceitful  and  perfidious  people."  The 
assembly  deliberated  upon  the  offers  of  the  king  of  Sicily, 
and  upon  the  route  it  would  be  most  advisable  to  take ;  the 
greater  part  of  the  barons,  full  of  confidence  in  their  arms 
and  the  protection  of  Grod,  could  not  be  brought  to  doubt 
the  faith  of  the  Greeks.  The  route  by  sea  seemed  to  offer 
fewer  wonders  to  their  curiosity,  and  fewer  perils  for  the 
exercise  of  their  bravery ;  besides,  the  vessels  which  Eoger 
could  furnish  would  not  nearly  suffice  to  transport  aU  whom 
religious  zeal  would  lead  to  join  the  holy  bands.  It  was 
therefore  resolved  that  preference  should  be  given  to  the 
route  by  land.  The  historian  Odo  de  Deuil  speaks  with 
deep  regret  of  this  resolution,  which  proved  so  fatal  to  the 
Crusaders,  and  about  which  they  had  neglected  to  consult 
the  Holy  Ghost.  The  Sicilian  deputies  could  not  conceal 
their  sorrow^  and  returned  to  their  country  predicting  all 
the  misfortunes  that  would  ensue. 

The  assembly  of  Etampes  appeared  to  act  under  a  much 
better  influence  when  it  became  necessary  to  choose  the 
persons  who  should  be  intrusted  with  the  government  of  the 
kingdom  during  the  pilgrimage  of  Louis  A^II.  When  the 
barons  and  the  prelates  had  deliberated  upon  this  important 
choice,  St.  Bernard,  who  was  their  interpreter,  addressed  the 
king,  and,  pointing  to  Abbot  Suger  and  the  count  de  Nevers, 
said,  "  Sire,  tliere  are  two  weapons,  and  they  are  enough.'*^ 
It  was  necessary  that  this  choice  of  the  assembly  should 
obtain  the  approbation  of  the  king  and  the  suffrages  of  the 
people.  The  abbot  of  St.  Denis  had  blessed  France  with  a 
loug  peace,  and  had  been  the  author  of  the  glory  of  two 
reigns.  He  was  opposed  to  the  crusade  ;  and  what  perfects 
his  eulogy,  he  had  preserved  his  popularity  without  sharing 
in  the  prevailing  opinions.  Suger  advised  the  king  not  to 
abandon  his  subjects,  and  represented  to  him  that  his  errors 
would  be  much  better  repaired  by  a  wise  administration  of 
the  kingdom  God  had  placed  him  over,  than  by  conquests 
ill  the  East.  He  who  could  dare  to  give  such  advice  as  this, 
was  more  worthy  than  any  other  to  represent  his  sovereign ; 
but  Suger  at  first  refused  an  employment  of  which  he 
plainly  saw  the  burthen  and  the  danger.  The  assembly 
would  not  make  another  choice ;  and  the  king  himself  had 
recourse  to  prayers  and  tears  to  induce  his  minister  to  take 


342  HISTORY  or  the  cnrsADEs. 

Lis  place  in  the  government  of  the  kingdom.  The  pope, 
who  arrived  a  short  time  after  in  France,  ordered  Suger  to 
^ield  to  the  wishes  of  the  monarch,  the  nobles,  and  the 
nation.  The  sovereign  pontiff,  in  order  to  facilitate  the 
honom-able  task  which  he  imposed  upon  the  abbot  of  St. 
Denis,  launched,  beforehand,  the  thunders  of  the  Church 
against  all  who  should  make  anv  attempts  against  the  regal 
authority  during  the  absence  of  the  king. 

The  count  de  Xevers,  who  had  likewise  been  pointed  out 
by  the  assembly  of  the  barons  and  bishops,  declmed,  as  the 
abbot  of  St.  Denis  had  done,  the  dangerous  charge  which 
they  offered  him.  When  he  was  warmly  pressed  to  accept 
the  government  of  the  kingdom,  he  declared  that  he  had 
made  a  vow  to  enter  into  the  order  of  St.  Bruno.  Such  was 
the  spirit  of  the  age,  that  this  intention  was  respected  as 
the  will  of  Grod ;  and  whilst  the  assembly  congratulated 
themselves  upon  inducing  a  monk  to  leave  his  cloister  to 
govern  a  kingdom,  thev  saw  without  astonishment  a  prince 
take  an  eternal  farewell  of  the  world,  and  bury  himself  in  a 
monastery. 

From  this  time  preparations  for  departure  were  actively 
commenced,  and  all  the  pro\'inces  of  France  and  Germany 
were  in  motion.  The  same  motives  which  had  armed  the 
companions  of  Godfrey  in  the  first  expedition,  inflamed  the 
courage  of  the  new  Crusaders.  The  eastern  war  held  out 
to  their  ambition  the  same  hopes  and  the  same  advantages. 
The  greater  part  of  the  people  were  animated  by  the  never- 
forgotten  remembrance  of  the  conquest  of  Jerusalem.  The 
relations  that  this  conquest  had  established  between  Syria 
and  Emope  added  still  to  the  zeal  and  ardour  of  the  soldiers 
of  the  cross ;  there  was  scarcelv  a  family  in  the  West  that 
did  not  furnish  a  defender  to  the  holy  places,  an  inhabitant 
to  the  cities  of  Palestine.  The  Christian  colonies  in  the 
East  were  to  the  Franks  as  a  new  country ;  warriors  who 
assumed  the  cross  appeared  to  be  only  arming  themselves  to 
defend  another  France,  which  was  dear  to  all  Christians,  and 
which  might  be  called  the  France  of  the  East. 

The  example  of  two  monarchs  also  necessarily  influenced 
many  warriors  when  rang-ino:  themselves  under  the  banners 
of  the  crusade.  Many  of  those  turbulent  nobles,  who  were 
then  called  prcedojies,  must  have  had,  as  well  as  Louis  YII., 


HISTOET    OF   THE    CEUSADES.  343 

numerous  guilty  violences  to  expiate.  The  spirit  of  chivalry, 
which  was  every  day  making  fresh  progress,  was  not  a  less 
powerful  principle  with  a  nobility  purely  and  entiiely  warhke. 
A  great  number  of  women,  attracted  by  tlie  example  of 
Eleanor  of  Guienne,  took  up  the  cross,  and  armed  themselves 
with  sword  and  lance.  A  crowd  of  knights  eagerly  followed 
them  ;  and  indeed  a  species  of  shame  seemed  attached  to  all 
who  did  not  go  to  fight  the  infidels.  History  relates  that 
distaffs  and  spindles  were  sent  to  those  who  would  not  take 
arms,  as  an  appropriate  reproach  for  their  cowardice.  The 
troubadours  and  trouveres,  whose  songs  were  so  much  liked, 
and  who  employed  themselves  in  singing  the  victories  of 
knights  over  the  Saracens,  determined  to  follow  into  Asia 
the  heroes  and  the  dames  they  had  celebrated  in  their  verses. 
Queen  Eleanor  and  Louis  the  Young  took  several  trouba- 
dours and  minstrels  with  them  into  the  East,  to  alleviate 
the  tediousness  of  a  long  journey. 

And  yet  the  enthusiasm  of  the  Crusaders  did  not  bear 
quite  the  same  character  as  that  of  the  first  crusade.  The 
world  was  not,  in  their  eyes,  filled  with  those  prodigies 
which  proclaim  the  especial  will  of  Heaven ;  great  phe- 
nomena of  nature  did  not  work  upon  the  imagination  of  the 
pilgrims  so  vividly.  God  seemed  to  have  delegated  all  his 
power  to  a  single  man,  who  led  the  people  at  his  will  by  his 
eloquence  and  his  miracles.  Nobody  was  seen,  nobody  was 
heard,  but  St.  Bernard ;  whereas  in  the  time  of  Peter  the 
Hermit  orators  everywhere  abounded,  and  nature  seemed 
charged  by  God  himself  to  promote  the  crusade. 

The  only  extraordinary  occurrence  of  the  time  was  the 
peace  w^hich  prevailed  throughout  Em-ope.*  As  at  the 
approach  of  the  first  crusade,  wars  between  indi\'iduals,  civil 
troubles,  and  public  outrage  ceased  all  at  once.  The  de- 
parture of  the  Crusaders  was  accompanied  by  less  disorder 
than  at  the  setting  out  of  the  first  expedition ;  they  neither 

*  A  German  historian  speaks  thus  of  this  crusade  : — Si  autem  aliter 
non,  hac  tamen  ratione,  exitum  habuit  expeditio  frequens,  purgaretur  eo 
genera  hominum  qui  rapinis  consueverunt  victitare  ;  moestum  devotione 
qualicunque,  omnes  id  genus  homines,  pro  remedio  peccatorum  sacram 
amplexi  militiam,  in  earn  nomine  dedere  volentes  expeditionem. — Krantz, 
vi.  sax.  c.  13  ;  De  Regibus  Hierosoli/morum,  auctore  Christophano 
Besoldo,  p.  214. 


34ri  HISTOfiT    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

showed  tlie  same  imprudence  in  the  choice  of  their  leaders, 
nor  the  same  impatience  to  march.  France  and  G-ermany 
had  not  to  suffer  the  depredations  of  an  undisciplined  mul- 
titude. The  first  crusade,  some  of  the  armies  of  which  were 
commanded  by  princes  and  knights,  and  others  bv  adven- 
turers and  monks,  exhibited  all  the  Hcense  and  the  tumul- 
tuous passions  that  are  met  with  in  unsettled  repubhcs.  In 
the  second  holy  war,  which  was  led  by  two  powerful  princes, 
the  more  regrdar  forms  of  a  monarchy  were  preserved.  The 
smaller  vassals  gathered  around  their  lords,  and  the  hitter 
were  obedient  to  the  orders  of  the  king  of  France  or  the 
emperor  of  G-ermany.  Such  good  order  in  the  outset  of  the 
holy  enterprise  appeared  to  promise  certain  victory,  and 
could  create  no  forethought  of  the  disasters  which  awaited 
the  Christian  armies. 

The  city  of  Metz  was  the  rendezvous  of  the  French  Cru- 
saders, and  Eatisbon  that  of  the  G-ermans.  The  roads 
which  led  to  these  cities  were  covered  with  pilgrims,  march- 
ing under  the  banners  of  their  lords.  A  great  number  of 
warriors  also  repaired  to  the  ports  of  Flanders,  England,  and 
Italy,  where  fleets  were  prepared  for  the  transport  of  pro- 
visions and  arms,  with  Crusaders  who  were  impatient  to 
arrive  in  Asia. 

As  the  routes  to  the  East  were  now  known,  the  pilgrims 
deceived  themselves  less  with  regard  to  the  countries  they 
had  to  pass  through.  The  sovereign  pontiff  had  advised  the 
barons  and  knights  not  to  take  with  them  either  dogfs  or 
birds  for  sport ;  they  renounced  the  luxury  of  their  castles, 
and  contented  themselves  with  their  arms.*  They  even  had 
the  precaution  to  take  with  them  things  that  might  be  re- 
quired in  a  distant  journey ;  the  Crusaders,  but  particularly 
the  Germans,  carried  all  sorts  of  instruments  for  throwing 
bridges,  cutting  down  forests,  and  clearing  roads. 

The  greatest  difficulty  was  to  fixid  money  to  defi^ay  the 
expenses  of  the  holy  war.  All  whom  infirmities  or  particular 
circumstances  detained  in  Europe  were  anxious  to  assist,  by 

*  The  pope  had  forbidden  luxury  amoag  the  Crusaders  ;  he  expressed 
himself  thus  ia  a  circular  : — Xec  eant  in  restibus  pretiosis,  et  cum  canibus 
fcive  avibtts.  aut  aliis  quae  ostentationi  potius  et  lasciviae,  quam  necessariis 
videantur  usibus  deservire,  sed  in  modesto  apparatu,  et  habitu,  in  quo 
poeniteatiam  potiu3  agere  quam  inanem  affectari  gloriam  videantur. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    CKUSADES.  345 

their  offerings,  tlie  enterprise  of  tbe  crusade.  According  to 
the  devotion  of  the  times,  the  greater  part  of  the  rich  who 
died  without  having  seen  Jerusalem,  left  by  their  will  a  sum 
for  the  promotion  of  pilgrimages  to  the  East.  All  these 
pious  gifts  were,  no  doubt,  considerable,  but  they  could  not 
suffice  for  the  support  of  a  large  army.  To  porcure  the 
necessary  money  Louis  YII.  had  recourse  to  loans,  and  levied 
imposts,  which  were  regulated  and  approved  of  by  the 
sovereign  pontiff.  St.  Bernard  and  Peter  the  Venerable 
had  exerted  themselves  with  much  courage  against  the  per- 
secution of  the  Jews ;  but  the  abbot  of  Cluny  thought  they 
ought  to  be  punished  in  that  which  they  held  dearest,  their 
wealth,  amassed  hy  usury,  and  even  hy  sacrilege.  He  advised 
the  king  of  France  to  take  from  the  Jews  the  money  neces- 
sary for  the  war  against  the  Saracens.  It  is  probable  that 
the  advice  of  Peter  the  Venerable  was  not  disdained,  and 
that  the  Jews  furnished  a  considerable  part  of  the  expenses 
of  the  crusade.  The  clergy  also,  who  had  so  much  enriched 
themselves  by  the  first  crusade,  w-ere  obliged  to  advance 
considerable  sums  for  tliis  expedition.  The  monastery  of 
Pleury  alone  paid  three  hundred  silver  marks  and  a  large 
sum  in  gold.  In  many  other  abbeys  the  vases  and  church 
ornaments  were  sold  to  purchase  arms,  and  to  pay  the 
expenses  of  a  war  undertaken  for  the  glory  of  Christ. 

The  lords  and  barons  followed  the  example  of  the  king  of 
Prance.  Some  pledged  or  sold  their  lands,  but  the  greater 
part  made  their  vassals  furnish  means  for  their  pilgrimage. 
The  hea"sy  taxes  laid  upon  the  people,  and  particularly  the 
spoliation  of  the  churches,  excited  many  complaints,  and 
began  to  cool  the  ardour  for  the  crusade.  "  There  was,"* 
says  an  ancient  historian,  "  neither  state,  condition,  age,  nor 
sex,  Avhich  was  not  forced  to  contribute  to  the  equipment  of 
the  king  and  the  princes  going  with  him ;  whence  followed 
the  discontent  of  every  one,  and  innumerable  maledictions, 
as  well  directed  against  the  king  as  the  troops." 

*  We  quote  here  the  words  of  Belle  Forest,  which  we  should  not  use 
if  they  were  not  translations  from  contemporary  chronicles.  We  will  only 
repeat  a  single  passage,  which  is  taken  from  the  chronicle  of  Raoul : — 
De  dicette  :  Per  totam  Galliam  fit  descriptio  generalis ;  non  sexus,  non 
ordo,  non  dignitas  quempiam  excusavit,  quin  auxilium  regi  conferret ;  cujus 
iter  multis  imprecationibus  persequebatur. 


346  histout  of  the  ckusades. 

Nevertheless  Louis  YII.  prepared  for  his  undertaking 
by  acts  of  devotion ;  he  visited  the  hospitals,  and  caused 
prayers  to  be  put  up  in  all  the  churches  for  the  success  of 
the  crusade.  "When  his  departure  drew  near,  he  went  to 
St.  Denis,  to  take  the  famous  Oriflamme,  which  was  borne 
before  the  kings  of  France  in  battle.  The  church  of  St. 
Denis  was  at  that  time  decorated  with  great  magnificence ; 
amono'  the  historical  monuments  which  were  there  collected, 
the  portraits  of  Grodfrey  de  Bouillon,  Tancred,  Eavmond  de 
St,  Gilles,  and  the  battles  of  Dorylseum,  Antioch,  and 
Ascalon,*  traced  upon  the  windows  of  the  choir,  must  have 
attracted  the  eyes  and  fixed  the  attention  of  Louis  and  his 
companions  in  arms.  The  king,  prostrated  on  the  tomb  of 
the  holv  apostle  of  France,  implored  his  protection  and  that 
of  his  pious  ancestors,  whose  ashes  reposed  in  the  same 
place.  The  pope,  who  had  come  to  St.  Denis,  placed  anew 
the  kingdom  of  France  imder  the  safeguard  of  rehgion,  and 
presented  to  Louis  YII.  his  scrip  and  stafi",  as  the  emblems 
of  his  pilgrimage.  After  this  ceremony  Louis  set  out, 
accompanied  by  Queen  Eleanor  and  a  great  part  of  his  court. 
He  wept  while  he  embraced  Abbot  Suger,  who  could  not 
himself  restrain  his  tears.  The  people,  says  a  modem  his- 
torian, who  crowded  his  passage,  after  having  followed  him 
for  a  long  distance  with  the  most  vociferous  applauses,  re- 
turned in  melancholy  silence  to  their  homes  as  soon  as  he 
was  out  of  sight.  He  left  Metz  at  the  head  of  a  hundred 
thousand  Crusaders,  traversed  Grermany,  and  directed  his 
march  towards  Constantinople,  where  he  had  appointed  to 
meet  the  emperor  of  the  West. 

The  emperor  Conrad,  after  having  caused  his  son  Henry 
to  be  crowned,  left  Eatisbon  in  the  beginning  of  spring.  He 
was  followed  by  an  army  so  numerous,  that,  according  to  the 
report  of  Otho,  of  Frisingen,  the  waves  were  not  sufficient 
to  transport  it,  nor  the  fields  spacious  enough  to  contain  all 
its  battaHons.  He  had  sent  ambassadors  to  announce  his 
coming  to  Constantinople,  and  to  demand  permission  to  cross 
the  territories  of  the  Grreek  empire.  Manuel  Comnenus  re- 
turned him  a  most  friendly  and  flattering  answer ;  but  when 

*  Montfaucon  speaks  of  these  pictures  in  Les  Monuments  de  la  Mo- 
narchie  Francaise,  vol.  i. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    CEUSADES.  347 

the  Germans  arrived  in  Bulgaria  and  Thrace,  they  were  not 
long  in  perceiving  that  they  must  not  reckon  upon  the  pro- 
mises that  had  been  made  them. 

At  the  time  of  the  first  crusade,  Constantinople  was  in 
great  dread  of  the  Turks,  which  was  of  service  to  the 
Franks  ;  but  from  that  period  the  capital  of  the  Greeks  had 
experienced  no  alarms,  and  no  longer  feared  the  attacks  of 
the  Mussulmans.  An  opinion  likewise  had  spread  through 
all  the  provinces  of  the  empire,  that  the  warriors  of  the 
AYest  entertained  the  project  of  taking  possession  of  Con- 
stantinople. This  report,  probable  in  itself,  and  strength- 
ened by  the  threats  of  the  Crusaders,  was  very  little  calcu- 
lated to  reestablish  peace  and  harmony  between  people  who 
despised  each  other  reciprocally,  and,  perhaps  with  equal 
reason,  exchanged  accusations  of  violations  of  the  faith  of 
treaties. 

Manuel  Comnenus,  whom  Odo  de  DeuH  will  not  even 
name,  because,  he  says,  his  name  is  not  written  in  the  book 
of  life,  was  the  grandson  of  Alexius  I.,  who  reigned  at  the 
time  of  the  first  crusade.  Paithful  to  the  policy  of  his  an- 
cestor, more  able,  and  above  all  more  artful  and  hypocritical 
than  he,  he  neglected  no  means  to  annoy  and  ruin  the  army 
of  the  Germans.  In  his  councils  the  warriors  of  the  West 
were  considered  as  men  of  iron,  whose  eyes  darted  flames, 
and  who  shed  torrents  of  blood  with  the  same  indifference 
as  they  would  pour  out  the  same  quantity  of  water.  At 
the  same  time  that  he  sent  them  ambassadors,  and  furnished 
them  with  provisions,  Manuel  formed  an  alliance  with  the 
Turks,  and  fortified  his  capital.  The  Germans,  in  the  course 
of  their  march,  had  often  to  repulse  the  perfidious  attacks  of 
the  Greeks,  and  the  latter  had,  more  than  once,  cause  to  com- 
plain of  the  violence  of  the  Crusaders.  A  relation  of  Conrad, 
who  had  remained  siciv  in  a  monastery  at  Adrianople,  was 
slain  by  the  soldiers  of  Manuel ;  Frederick,  duke  of  Suabia, 
gave  the  monastery  in  which  this  crime  had  been  committed, 
up  to  the  flames ;  and  torrents  of  blood  flowed  to  avenge  an 
assassination,  .  . 

Upon  approaching  Constantinople,  the  Germans  had  set 
up  their  tents  in  a  rich  valley  watered  by  the  river  Melas. 
All  at  once  a  violent  storm  burst  over  the  neighbouring 
mountains ;  the  river,  increased  by  the  torrents,  inundated 


348  HISTORY   OF   THE    CEUSADES. 

the  plain  where  the  Christian  army  was  celebrating  the  feast 
of  the  Assumption,*  and  as  if  it  had  conspired  -with  the 
Greeks,  says  a  French  historian,  and  as  if  it  imitated  their 
perfidy  and  treason,  it  carried  away  the  horses  and  baggage, 
and  brought  desolation  into  the  camp  of  the  Crusaders.  The 
Gre>?ks  afforded  some  succour  to  the  German  soldiers,  but 
they  saw  with  joy,  in  an  event  they  affected  to  deplore,  a 
presage  of  the  defeats  which  threatened  the  armies  of  the 
Latins. 

Constantinople,  on  the  arrival  of  Conrad,  presented  the 
novel  spectacle  of  two  emperors  who  had  inherited  the  wrecks 
of  the  empire  of  Augustus,  and  each  of  whom  called  himself 
the  successor  of  Caesar  and  Constantine.  Their  pretensions 
created  some  divisions  ;  the  emperor  of  the  West  had  a  va- 
liant army  to  support  his  rights  ;  he  of  the  East  did  not 
dare  to  insist  too  openly  upon  his.  He  called  in  perfidy  to 
bis  aid,  and  wounded  vanity  avenged  itself  in  a  manner  as 
cowardly  as  it  was  cruel. 

As  soon  as  the  Germans  had  passed  the  Bosphorus,  they 
foimd  themselves  exposed  to  all  sorts  of  treachery.  All  who 
straggled  from  the  army  were  slain  by  the  soldiers  of  Com- 
uenus  ;  the  gates  of  all  the  cities  on  their  route  were  closed ; 
when  they  asked  for  provisions,  they  were  obliged  to  put  the 
money  into  the  baskets  which  were  lowered  down  from  the 
walls,  and  af  cer  all,  they  frequently  obtained  nothing  but  in- 
sult and  ridicule.  The  Greeks  mixed  lime  with  the  flour 
they  sold  them ;  and  when  the  Crusaders  had  anytliing  for 
sale,  they  were  paid  in  a  false  coin,  which  was  refused 
when  they  became  purcliasers.  Ambuscades  awaited  them 
throughout  their  route  ;  the  enemy  was  aware  of  their  line 
of  march,  and  as  the  height  of  perfidy,  furnished  them  at 
Constantinople  with  faithless  guides,  who  misled  the  army 
in  the  defiles  of  Mount  Taurus,  and  deKvered  them  up,  Avorn 
out  with  fatigue,  to  famine  and  despair,  or  to  the  swords  of 
the  Mussulmans.  The  Germans,  ill-treated  by  the  Greeks, 
did  not  seek  to  revenge  themselves,  although  it  would  have 
been  easy  to  have  done  so,  and,  according  to  the  ideas  of  the 
age,  might  have  appeared  glorious.     This  is  the  reason  why 

*  Otto  of  Frisingen,  an  eye-witness,  describes  this  misfortune  at  great 
length. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    CRUSADES.  349 

Montesquieu  says,  that  the  Germans  were  the  lest  sort  of 
people  in  the  ivorlcl.  The  French,  who  came  after  them, 
showed  themselves  less  patient,  and  were  more  respected. 
The  emperor  sent  the  principal  lords  of  his  court  to  the 
king  of  Erance,  before  whom  they  prostrated  themselves, 
and  only  spoke  to  him  on  their  knees.  French  haughtiness 
was  more  surprised  than  pleased  at  such  homage,  and  only 
answered  the  flattery  of  the  East  by  a  disdainful  silence. 
The  two  monarchs  had  an  interview,  in  which  they  recipro- 
cated the  most  tender  caresses,  and  sought  to  sui'pass  each 
other  in  magnificence.  If  Manuel  on  this  occasion  excelled 
his  rival  in  the  display  of  his  riches,  he  showed  less  sincerity 
than  Louis  in  the  demonstrations  of  his  friendship,  for  in 
the  midst  of  the  banquets  which  he  gave  to  the  Crusaders, 
the  latter  learnt  that  he  preserved  a  close  alliance  with  the 
sultan  of  Iconium,  and  that  the  Turks  were  fully  informed 
of  the  plans  of  the  French  king. 

This  treachery  irritated  the  Erencb  lords,  and  when  the 
emperor  required  them  to  render  him  homage,  as  the 
leaders  of  the  first  crusade  had  done,  it  was  proposed  in  the 
council  that  the  only  reply  should  be  to  take  possession  of 
Constantinople.  "  You  have  heard,"  said  the  bishop  of 
Langres,  "  that  the  Grreeks  propose  to  you  to  recognise  their 
empire,  and  submit  to  their  laws  :  thus  then  weakness  is  to 
command  strength,  and  cowardice  bravery  !  What  has  this 
nation  done  ?  What  have  their  ancestors  done,  that  they 
should  show  so  much  pride  ?  I  will  not  speak  to  you  of  the 
snares  and  the  ambushes  that  they  have  everywhere  planted 
in  your  way ;  we  have  seen  the  priests  of  Byzantium  ming- 
ling ridicule  with  outrage,  purify  Mdth  fire  the  altars  at  which 
our  priests  had  sacrificed.  They  ask  of  us  new  oaths,  which 
lionour  repudiates.  Is  it  not  time  to  revenge  treasons,  and 
repulse  insults  ?  Hitherto  the  Crusaders  have  sufiered 
more  from  their  perfidious  friends  than  from  their  open  ene- 
mies. Constantinople  has  long  been  a  troublesome  barrier 
between  us  and  our  brothers  of  the  East.  It  is  our  duty  at 
last  to  open  a  free  road  to  Asia.  The  G-reeks,  you  know, 
have  allowed  the  sepulchre  of  Christ,  and  all  the  Christian 
cities  of  the  East,  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  infidels. 
Constantinople,  there  is  no  doubt,  will  soon  become  a  prey 
to  Turks  and  barbarians,  and  by  her  cowardly  weakness,  she 


350  HISTOET    OF   THE    CEUSADES. 

\nll  one  day  open  the  barriers  of  tho  "West.  The  emperors 
of  Bvzantimn  neither  know  how  to  defend  their  own  pro- 
ATQces  nor  will  they  suffer  others  to  do  it  for  them.  They 
haye  always  impeded  the  generous  efforts  of  the  soldiers  of 
the  cross ;  eyen  lately,  this  emperor,  who  declares  himself 
your  support,  has  endeayoured  to  dispute  their  conquests 
^ith  the  Latins,  and  rayish  from  them  the  principality  of 
Antioch.  His  aim  now  is  to  dehver  up  the  Christian  armies 
to  the  Saracens,  Let  us  hasten  then  to  preyent  our  own 
ruin  by  effecting  that  of  these  traitors  ;  let  us  not  leaye 
behind  us  a  jealous  and  insolent  city,  which  only  seeks  the 
means  of  destroying  us  ;  let  us  cast  upon  lier  the  eyils  she 
prepares  for  us.  K  the  G-reeks  accomplish  their  perfidious 
designs,  it  is  of  you  the  ~V\^est  will  one  day  ask  back  its 
armies.  Since  the  war  we  undertake  is  holy,  is  it  not  just 
that  we  shoidd  employ  eyery  means  to  succeed  ?  Necessity, 
country,  religion,  all  order  you  to  do  that  which  I  propose 
to  you.  The  aqueducts  which  supply  the  city  with  water 
are  in  our  power,  and  offer  an  easy  means  of  reducing  the 
inhabitants.  The  soldiers  of  Manuel  cannot  stand  against 
our  battalions  ;  a  part  of  the  walls  and  towers  of  Byzantium 
has  crumbled  away  before  our  eyes,  as  by  a  species  of 
miracle.  It  appears  that  God  himself  calls  us  into  the 
city  of  Constantine,  and  he  opens  its  gates  to  you  as  he 
opened  the  gates  of  Edessa,  Antioch,  and  Jerusalem  to  your 
fathers."* 

T^^hen  the  bishop  of  Langres  had  ceased  to  speak,  seyeral 
knights  and  barons  raised  their  yoices  in  reply.  The  Chris- 
tians, they  said,  were  come  into  Asia  to  expiate  their  own 
sins,  and  not  to  punish  the  crimes  of  the  Greeks,  They  had 
taken  up  arms  to  defend  Jei'usalem,  and  not  to  destroy  Con- 
stantinople, It  was  true  they  must  consider  the  Greeks  as 
heretics,  but  it  was  not  more  just  for  them  to  massacre  them 
than  to  massacre  the  Jews ;  when  the  Christian  wamors 
assumed  the  cross,  God  did  not  put  into  their  hands  the 
sword  of  justice.  In  a  word,  the  barons  found  much  more 
policy  than  religion  in  that  which  they  had  heard,  and  coidd 
not  conceive  that  it  was  right  to  undertake  an  enterprise 

*  Odo  de  Deuil  gives  an  account  of  this  deliberation,  and  reports  the 
speech  of  the  bishop  of  Langres,  on  whom  he  bestows  the  greatest  praise. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    CEUSADES.  351 

which  was  not  in  accordance  with  the  principles  of  honour. 
Neither  had  they  faith  in  the  misfortunes  with  which  they 
were  threatened,  and  relied  upon  Providence  and  their  own 
valour  to  enable  them  to  siu-mount  all  obstacles.  The  most 
fervent  of  the  pilgrims  dreaded  any  delay  in  the  march  of 
the  Crusaders,  and  this  fear  increased  their  scruples ;  at 
length  the  loyalty  of  the  knights,  the  general  pious  impa- 
tience to  behold  the  sacred  places,  and  perhaps  also  the  pre- 
sents and  the  seductions  of  Manuel,  procured  a  triumph  for 
the  party  advocating  moderation. 

The  emperor  was  nevertheless  alarmed  at  seeing  a  body  of 
warriors,  full  of  confidence  and  courage,  thus  deliberate  so 
near  to  him  on  the  conquest  of  his  capital.  The  homage 
that  the  barons  and  knights  paid  him  did  not  at  all  re-assure 
him  as  to  their  intentions.  To  hasten  their  departure,  he 
caused  a  report  to  be  spread  that  the  Grermans  had  gained 
great  victories  over  the  Turks,  and  that  they  had  made 
themselves  masters  of  Iconium.  This  succeeded  even  be- 
yond Manuel's  hopes. 

"When  the  Crusaders,  impatient  to  pursue  the  Turks,  were 
leaving  Constantinople,  they  were  surprised  by  an  eclipse  of 
the  sun.  A  superstitious  multitude  saw  in  this  phenomenon 
nothing  but  a  fatal  presage,  and  believed  it  to  be  either  the 
warning  of  some  great  calamitj^,  or  of  some  new  treachery 
on  the  part  of  Manuel ;  and  the  fears  of  the  pilgrims  were 
not  long  in  being  realized.  Scarcely  had  they  entered 
Bithynia  when  they  were  taught  how  to  appreciate  the  false 
reports  and  perfidy  of  the  Grreeks.  Louis,  when  encamped 
upon  the  shores  of  the  Lake  Ascanius,  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Nice,  received  information  of  the  complete  defeat  of  the 
G-ermans.  The  sultan  of  Iconium,  on  the  approach  of  the 
Christians  of  the  West,  had  assembled  all  his  forces,  and  at 
the  same  time  solicited  the  aid  of  the  other  Mussulman 
powers  to  defend  the  passages  of  Asia  Minor.  Conrad, 
whom  William  of  Tyre  styles  vir  simplex,  whom  le  Pere 
Maimbourg  compares  to  a  victim  crowned  with  flowers  that 
is  being  led  to  slaughter,  had  advanced,  on  the  faith  of  some 
unknown  guides,  into  the  mountains  ot  Cappadocia.  Impa- 
tient to  be  before  the  French,  for  whom  he  was  to  have 
waited,  he  marched  on  in  perfect  ignorance  of  the  roads,  and 
without  provisions  to  feed  the  multitude  which  followed  him. 


352  HISTOBY   OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

At  a  time  that  he  entertained  no  suspicion  of  their  vicinity, 
he  was  surprised  bv  the  Turks,  who  covered  the  summits  of 
the  mountains,  and  rushed  down  upon  the  exhausted  and 
famished  Christians.*  The  Mussulmans  were  lightly  armed, 
and  performed  their  evolutions  with  the  greatest  rapidity. 
The  Gi-ermans  could  scarcely  move  under  the  weight  of  their 
bucklers,  corselets,  and  steel  brassets  ;  every  day  skirmishes 
were  fought,  in  which  the  Christians  had  the  disadvantage. 
Such  as  were  more  lightly  armed,  and  bore  sheep-skin  buck- 
lers, sometimes  would  rush  among  the  enemy  and  put  them 
to  flight ;  but  the  Turks  soon  rallied  upon  the  heights,  and 
darted  down  again,  like  birds  of  prey,  upon  the  terrified 
Christians.  A  crowd  of  pilgrims,  whose  arms  only  consisted 
of  their  scrip  and  staif,  created  the  greatest  trouble  and  con- 
fusion in  the  Christian  army.  The  Mussulmans  took  advan- 
tajre  of  their  disorder,  and  never  allowed  their  enemies  a 
moment*s  repose.  Despair  and  terror  put  an  end  to  all  dis- 
cipline among  the  Crusaders ;  they  no  longer  obeyed  the 
orders  of  their  leaders,  but  every  one  sought  to  insure  his 
own  safety  by  flight.  At  length  the  rout  became  general ; 
the  country  was  covered  with  fugitives,  who  wandered  about 
at  hazard,  and  found  no  asylum  against  the  conquerors. 
Some  perished  with  want,  others  fell  beneath  the  swords  of 
the  Mussulmans ;  the  women  and  children  were  carried  ofl" 
with  the  baggage,  and  formed  a  part  of  the  enemy's  booty. 
Conrad,  who  had  scarcely  saved  the  tenth  part  of  his  army, 
was  himself  wounded  by  two  arrows,  and  only  escaped  the 
pursuit  of  the  Saracens  by  a  kind  of  miracle. 

The  news  of  this  disaster  threw  the  French  into  the 
greatest  consternation.  Louis,  accompanied  by  his  bravest 
warriors,  flew  to  the  assistance  of  Conrad.  The  two  monarchs 
embraced  in  tears.  Conrad  related  the  particulars  of  his 
defeat,  and  complained  the  more  bitterly  of  the  perfidy  of 
Manuel,  from  feeling  the  necessity  of  excusing  his  own  im- 
prudence. The  two  princes  renewed  their  oath  to  repair 
together  to  Palestine,  but  the  emperor  of  G-ermauy  did  not 
keep  his  word.     AYhether  he  was  ashamed  of  being  without 

*  Otto  of  Frisingen,  an  ocular  witness,  gives  none  of  the  details  of  the 
rout  of  the  Germans,  saying  as  his  excuse  that  he  had  nothing  agreeable 
to  relate.  The  Gesta  Ludovici  and  William  of  Tyre  supply  the  silence  of 
Otto  of  Frisingen. 


HISTORY    OE    THE    CSUSADES.  353 

an  army,  whether  he  could  not  endure  the  haughtiness  of 
the  Trench,  or  that  he  dreaded  their  too  just  reproaches,  he 
sent  back  the  few  troops  he  had  left,  and  returned  to  Con- 
stantinople, where  he  was  very  well  received,  because  he  was 
no  longer  to  be  feared. 

The  French  army,  in  the  mean  time,  pursued  its  march, 
and,  leaving  Mount  Olympus  on  its  left,  and  Mount  Ida  on 
its  right,  passed  through  ancient  Phrygia.  The  French, 
on  their  passage,  passed  Pergamus,  Ephesus,  and  several 
other  celebrated  cities,  which  the  Grreeks  had  allowed  to  go 
to  ruin.  Winter  was  coming  on,  and  the  abundant  rains 
and  melted  snows  had  swollen  the  rivers  till  they  overflowed 
the  country,  and  made  the  roads  impracticable.  The  inha- 
bitants of  the  mountains,  a  savage,  wild  people,  fled  away  at 
the  approach  of  the  Christians,  taking  with  them  their 
flocks,  and  all  that  they  possessed.  The  inhabitants  of  the 
cities  shut  their  gates  against  the  Crusaders,  and  refused 
provisions  to  all  who  had  not  full  value  to  give  in  return. 
Whilst  the  French  army  was  crossing  Phrygia,  Manuel  sent 
ambassadors  to  the  king  of  France,  to  inform  him  that  the 
Turks  were  assembling  in  all  parts  for  the  purpose  of  im- 
peding his  march.  He  ofifered  the  Crusaders  an  asylum  in 
the  cities  of  the  empire ;  but  this  ofier,  accompanied  by 
menaces,  appeared  to  be  only  a  snare,  and  Louis  preferred 
braving  the  enmity  of  the  Turks  to  trusting  to  the  promises 
of  the  Grreeks.  The  Christian  army  pursuing  its  march 
towards  the  frontiers  of  Phrygia,  arrived  at  last  at  the  banks 
of  the  Meander,  towards  the  embouchure  of  the  Lycus. 
The  Tiu'ks,  who  had  destroyed  the  army  of  the  Grermans, 
prepared  to  dispute  the  passage  of  the  river  with  the  French. 
Some  were  encamped  on  the  mountains,  others  on  the  banks  ; 
the  rains  had  swollen  the  Meander,  and  the  passage  was 
dif&cult  and  dangerous. 

Animated  by  the  speeches  and  the  example  of  their  king, 
no  obstacle  could  stop  the  French.  In  vain  the  Turks 
showered  their  arroAvs  upon  them,  or  formed  their  battle- 
array  on  the  banks ;  the  French  army  crossed  the  river, 
broke  through  the  ranks  of  the  barbarians,  slaughtered 
vast  numbers  of  them,  and  pursued  them  to  the  foot  of 
the  mountains.  The  two  shores  of  the  Meander  were 
covered  with  the  bodies  of  the  Turks ;  the  historian  Nice- 


354  HISTORY   OF   THE    CETJSAHES. 

tas,*  who  some  rears  after  saw  their  heaped-up  hones,  could 
not  help  saying,  whilst  praising  the  courage  of  the  Franks, 
"  that  if  such  men  did  not  take  Constantinople,  their  mode- 
ration and  patience  were  much  to  be  admired." 

After  the  battle  they  had  fought  with  the  Saracens,  some 
pilgrims  asserted  that  they  had  seen  a  knight,  clothed  in 
white,  march  at  the  head  of  the  army,  and  give  the  signal  for 
victory .  Odo  of  Deuil,  an  ocular  '^\-itness,  speaks  of  this 
apparition,  without  gi'^'ing  faith  to  it,  and  satisfies  himself 
with  saying  that  the  Christians  would  not  have  triumphed 
over  the  Turks  without  the  protection  and  the  will  of  God. 

This  victory  gave  great  confidence  to  the  Crusaders,  and 
rendered  their  enemies  more  cautious.  The  Turks,  whom  it 
was  impossible  to  pursue  far  in  an  unknown  country,  rallied 
again  after  the  battle  of  the  Meander.  Less  confident  in 
their  strength,  and  not  daring  to  attack  an  army  that  had 
conquered  them,  they  watched  for  a  moment  in  which  they 
might  safely  surprise  them.  The  imprudence  of  a  leader 
who  commanded  the  French  vanguard  soon  presented  to 
them  this  opportunity.  On  quitting  Laodicea,  a  city 
situated  on  the  Lvcus,  the  Crusaders  had  directed  their 
course  towards  the  mountains  which  separate  Phrygia  from 
Pisidia.  These  mountains  ofiered  nothing  but  narrow  pas- 
sages, in  which  they  constantly  marched  between  rocks  and 
precipices.  The  French  army  was  divided  into  two  bodies, 
commanded  every  day  by  new  leaders,  who  received  their 
orders  from  the  king. 

Every  evening  they  laid  down  in  council  the  route  they 
were  to  foUow  the  next  day,  and  appointed  the  place  where 
the  army  was  to  encamp.  One  day  when  they  had  to  cross 
one  of  the  highest  mountains,  the  order  had  been  given  to 
the  vanguard  to  encamp  on  the  heights,  and  to  wait  for  the 
rest  of  the  army,  so  that  they  might  descend  into  the  plain 
the  next  day  in  order  of  battle.  Geoffrey  de  Ean9on,  lord 
of  Taillebours:,  this  dav  commanded  the  first  bodv  of  the 
French  army,  and  bore  the   Oriflamme,  or  royal  standard. 

*  Nicetas,  in  his  account,  confounds  the  army  of  the  French  with  that 
of  the  Germans,  who  did  not  fight  on  the  banks  of  the  Meander  ;  all 
which  Louis  did  he  attributes  to  Conrad.  The  German  historians  have 
followed  him,  and  state  the  victory  near  the  Meander  to  have  been  gjiined 
by  the  sovereign  of  their  own  nation. 


HISTOEY   or   THE    CEUSADES.  355 

He  arrived  early  at  tlie  spot  where  lie  was  to  pass  the  night, 
which  offered  no  retreat  for  his  soldiers  but  woods,  ravines, 
and  barren  rocks.  At  the  foot  of  the  mountain  they  beheld 
an  extensive  and  commodious  valley ;  the  day  was  fine,  and 
the  troops  were  in  a  condition  to  march  without  fatigue 
several  hours  longer.  The  comit  de  JMaurienne,  brother  of 
the  king,  Queen  Eleanor,  and  all  the  ladies  of  her  suite,  who 
had  accompanied  the  vanguard,  pressed  Greoffrey  de  Ean9on 
to  descend  into  the  plain.  He  had  the  weakness  to  comply 
with  their  wishes ;  but  scarcely  had  he  gained  the  valley, 
when  the  Turks  took  possession  of  the  heights  he  had 
passed,  and  ranged  themselves  in  order  of  battle. 

During  this  time  the  rearguard  of  the  army,  in  which  was 
the  king,  advanced  full  of  confidence  and  security ;  on  seeing 
troops  in  the  woods  and  on  the  rocks,  they  supposed  them 
to  be  the  French,  and  saluted  them  with  cries  of  joy.  They 
marched  without  order,  the  beasts  of  bui'den  and  the  chariots 
were  mingled  with  the  battalions,  and  the  greater  part  of 
the  soldiers  had  left  their  arms  with  the  baggage.  The 
Turks,  perfectly  motionless,  waited  in  silence  till  the  Chris- 
tian army  should  be  enclosed  in  the  defiles,  and  when  they 
thought  themselves  sure  of  victory,  they  moved  forward, 
uttering  frightful  cries,  and,  sword  in  hand,  fell  upon  the 
unarmed  Christians,  who  had  no  time  to  rally.  The  disorder 
and  confusion  of  the  Trench  army  cannot  be  described. 
"Above  us,"  says  an  ocular  witness,  "steep  rocks  rose  up 
to  the  clouds ;  beneath  us  precipices,  dug  by  the  torrent, 
descended  to  the  infernal  regions."  The  Crusaders  were 
upon  a  narrow  path,  upon  which  men  and  horses  coidd 
neither  advance  nor  retreat ;  they  dragged  each  other  down 
into  the  abysses  ;  whilst  rocks,  detached  from  the  tops  of  the 
mountains,  rolling  do\Mi  with  horrible  noise,  crushed  every- 
thing in  their  passage. 

The  cries  of  the  wounded  and  the  d^dng  mingled  with  the 
confused  roar  of  the  torrents,  the  hissing  of  the  arrows,  and 
the  neighing  of  the  terrified  horses.  In  this  frightful  tumult 
the  leaders  gave  no  orders,  and  the  soldiers  could  neither 
fight  nor  fly.  The  bravest  rallied  around  the  king,  and 
advanced  towards  the  top  of  the  mountain.  Thirty  of  the 
principal  nobles  that  accompanied  Louis  perished  by  his 
side,  selling  their  lives  dearly.     The  king  remained  almost 

Vol.  I.— 17 


356  niSTOKT  OF  tue  ceusades. 

alone  on  the  field  of  battle,  and  took  refuge  upon  a  rock, 
whence  he  braved  the  attack  of  the  infidels  who  piursued 
him.  "U^ith  his  back  against  a  tree,  he  singly  resisted  the 
efl'orts  of  several  Saracens,  who,  taking  him  for  a  simple 
soldier,  at  length  left  liim,  to  secure  their  share  of  the  pil- 
lage. Although  the  night  began  to  fall,  the  king  expected 
to  be  attacked  again,  when  the  voices  of  some  Prenchmen 
who  had  escaped  the  carnage,  gave  him  the  agreeable  infor- 
mation that  the  Turks  had  retired.  He  mounted  a  stray 
horse,  and,  after  a  thousand  perils,  rejoined  liis  vanguard, 
where  all  were  lamenting  his  death. 

After  tliis  defeat,  in  which  the  king  had  been  exposed  to 
such  dangers,  the  report  of  his  death  was  not  only  spread 
throughout  the  East,  but  reached  Europe,  where  it  filled  the 
Christians,  particularly  the  French,  with  grief  and  terror. 
"William  of  T^'re,  whilst  relating  the  disastrous  defeat  of  the 
Crusaders,  expresses  astonishment  that  God,  always  full  of 
mercv,  should  have  allowed  so  manv  illustrious  warriors 
armed  in  his  cause,  to  perish  so  miserably.  The  Crusaders 
who  formed  the  vanguard  of  the  army,  whilst  deploring  the 
death  of  their  brethren,  raised  their  voices  against  Geoffrey 
de  Eancon,  and  demanded  that  the  loss  of  so  much  blood 
shotild  be  visited  tipon  him.  The  king,  however,  had  no'; 
sufficient  firmness  to  punish  an  irreparable  fault,  and  only 
so  far  yielded  to  tlie  wishes  of  the  barons  and  the  soldiers 
as  to  give  them  as  a  leader  an  old  warrior  named  Gilbert, 
whose  skill  and  bravery  were  the  boast  of  the  whole  army. 
Gilbert  shared  the  command  with  Evrard  des  Barres,  grand 
master  of  the  Templars,  who  had  come,  with  a  great  number 
of  his  knights,  to  meet  the  Christian  armv.  Under  these 
two  leaders,  whom  the  king  himsell  obeyed,  the  Cinisaders 
continued  their  march,  and  avenged  their  defeat  several  times 
upon  the  Mussulmans. 

On  their  arrival  in  Pisidia  the  French  had  almost  every- 
where to  defend  themselves  against  the  perfidy  of  the  Greeks 
and  the  attacks  of  the  Turks  ;  but  winter  was  even  a  more 
dangerous  enerav  than  these  to  the  Christian  armv.  Tor- 
rents  of  rain  fell  everv  dav :  cold  and  humiditv  enervated 
the  powers  of  the  soldiers ;  and  the  greater  part  of  the 
horses,  being  destitute  of  forage,  perished,  and  only  served 
to  feed  the  anny,  which  was  without  provisions.  The  clothes 


HISTOEY    or   THE    CRUSADES.  357 

of  the  soldiers  hung  about  them  in  rags  ;  the  Crusaders 
sold  or  abandoned  their  amis ;  the  tents  and  baggage  lay 
scattered  on  the  roads,  and  the  army  dragged  in  its  train  a 
crowd  of  sick,  and  numbers  of  poor  pilgrims,  who  made  the 
air  resound  with  their  cries  and  lamentations.  The  king  of 
Prance  consoled  them  by  his  discoui'ses,  and  relieved  them 
by  his  charitable  gifts  ;  for  in  the  midst  of  so  many  reverses 
God  alone  seemed  to  sustain  his  courage.  "  Never,"  says 
Odo  of  Deuil,  "  did  he  pass  a  single  day  without  hearing 
mass,  and  without  invoking  the  God  of  the  Christians." 

At  last  the  Christians  arrived  before  the  walls  of  xA.ttalia, 
situated  on  the  coast  of  Pamphylia,  at  the  mouth  of  the  river 
Cestius.  This  city,  inhabited  by  Greeks,  was  governed  in 
the  name  of  the  emperor  of  Constantinople.  As  the  inha- 
bitants were  mistrustful  of  the  intentions  of  the  Christian 
army,  they  refused  to  open  their  gates  to  them,  and  the 
Crusaders  were  obliged  to  encamp  on  the  neighbouring 
plains,  exposed  to  all  the  rigours  of  the  season. 

They  could  neither  find  provisions  for  themselves  nor 
forage  for  their  horses  in  a  barren  uncultivated  country, 
constantly  ravaged  by  the  Turks.  The  Greeks  refused  to 
assist  them  in  their  distress,  and  sold  them  everything  at 
its  weight  in  gold.  Famine,  and  the  evils  which  the  Chris- 
tians had  hitherto  suffered,  became  still  more  insupportable 
to  them  when  they  lost  all  hope.  Louis  YII.  having  called 
a  council,  the  chief  men  of  the  army  represented  to  him 
that  the  Crusaders  were  without  horses  and  without  arms, 
they  were  not  in  a  condition  to  give  an  enemy  battle,  nor 
could  they  support  the  fatigues  of  a  long  march.  There 
remained,  they  added,  no  other  resource  for  the  Christians 
but  to  abandon  themselves  to  the  perils  of  the  sea.*  The 
king  did  not  agree  with  their  opinion,  and  wished  that  they 
should  only  embark  the  multitude  of  pilgrims  that  embar- 
rassed the  march  of  the  army.  "As  for  us,"  said  he,  "avo 
will  redouble  our  courage,  and  we  will  follow  the  route 
which  our  fathers,  who  cong^uered  Antioch  and  Jerusalem, 
followed.  Whilst  anything  remains  to  me,  I  will  share  it 
with  my  companions ;  and  when  I  shall  have  nothing  left, 

*  The  Crusaders  had  then  a  march  of  forty  days  before  them  to  arrive 
at  Antioch  by  land.     They  might  have  reached  it  in  three  days  by  sea. 


358  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

Avliicli  of  you  will  not  undergo  ^vith  me  poverty  and  misery  ?'* 
The  barons,  touched  v^ith  this  speech,  swore  to  die  with 
their  king,  but  were  not  willing  to  die  without  glory.  Ani- 
mated by  the  example  of  Louis,  they  might  triumph  over 
the  Turks,  over  their  misfortunes,  and  the  rigours  of  winter  ; 
but  they  were  without  defence  against  famine  and  the  per- 
fidy of  the  Grreeks.  They  reproached  Louis  YII.  with  not 
having  followed  the  counsels  of  the  bishop  of  Langres,  and 
with  having  pardoned  enemies  more  cruel  than  the  Mussul- 
mans, more  dangerous  than  the  tempests  or  rocks  of  the 
ocean. 

As  at  the  end  of  this  council,  strong  murmurs  against  the 
Greeks  arose  in  the  Christian  army,  the  governor  of  Attalia 
became  fearful  of  the  effects  of  despair,  and  came  to  offer 
Louis  vessels,  in  which  to  embark  all  the  Crusaders.  This 
proposition  was  accepted  ;  but  they  had  to  wait  for  the  pro- 
mised vessels  more  than  five  weeks.  In  so  long  a  delay  the 
Crusaders  consumed  all  the  resoiu'ces  they  had  left,  and 
many  died  of  hunger  and  misery  ;  the  vessels  which  at 
length  arrived  in  the  ports  of  Attalia,  were  neither  large 
enough  nor  suflicient  in  number  to  embark  the  whole  Chris- 
tian armv.  The  Crusaders  then  perceived  the  abyss  of  evils 
into  which  they  were  about  to  fall;  but  such  was  their 
resignation,  or  rather  the  deplorable  state  of  the  army,  that 
they  committed  no  -v-iolence  towards  the  Grreeks,  and  did  not 
even  threaten  a  single  city  which  refused  to  help  them. 

A  crowd  of  poor  pilgrims,  among  whom  were  barons  and 
knights,  appeared  before  the  king,  and  spoke  to  him  in  these 
terms  : — "  We  have  not  means  wherewith  to  pay  for  our 
passage,  and  we  cannot  follow  you  into  Syria ;  we  remain 
here  victims  to  misery  and  disease  ;  when  you  shall  have  left 
us,  we  shall  be  exposed  to  greater  perils  ;  and  being  attacked 
by  the  Turks  is  the  least  of  the  misfortunes  we  have  to 
dread.  Hemember  that  we  are  Franks,  that  we  are  Chris- 
tians ;  give  us  leaders  who  may  console  us  for  your  absence, 
and  assist  us  to  endure  the  fatigue,  the  hunger,  and  the 
death  which  await  us."  Louis,  in  order  to  reassure  them, 
spoke  to  them  in  the  most  feelmg  terms,  and  distributed 
considerable  sums  amongst  them.  He  was  as  liberal  in  his 
assistance,  says  Odo  de  Deud,  as  if  he  had  lost  nothing,  or 
wanted  nothing  for  himself.     He  sent  for  the  governor  of 


HISTORY   OF   THE    CRUSADES.  359 

Attalia,  and  gave  liim  fifty  silver  marks  to  provide  for  the 
siek  who  remained  in  the  city,  and  to  conduct  the  land  army 
as  far  as  th.e  coasts  of  Cilicia. 

Louis  yil.  gave  as  leaders  for  all  who  could  not  embark, 
Thierri  count  of  Flanders  and  Archambaud  de  Bourbon  ;  he 
then  went  on  board  the  fleet  that  had  been  prepared  for 
him,  accompanied  by  the  queen  Eleanor,  the  principal  lords 
of  his  court,  and  all  that  remained  of  his  cavalry.  "Whilst 
looking  at  the  Crusaders  whom  he  left  at  Attalia,  the  king 
of  France  could  not  refrain  from  tears ;  a  multitude  of  pil- 
grims assembled  upon  the  shore,  followed  with  their  eyes  the 
vessel  in  which  he  had  embarked,  putting  up  vows  for  his 
voyage  ;  and  when  they  had  lost  sight  of  him,  they  thought 
of  nothing  but  their  own  dangers,  and  sank  into  the  deepest 
despondency. 

On  the  day  following  the  departure  of  Louis  YIL,  the 
pilgrims,  who  were  expecting  the  escort  and  the  guides  that 
had  been  promised  them,  saw  the  Turks  come  upon  them, 
eager  for  murder  and  pillage.  Archambaud  and  Thierri  for 
a  moment  re-animated  the  courage  of  the  Crusaders,  and 
several  times  repulsed  the  infidels.  But  the  Turks  returned 
to  the  charge  without  ceasing ;  every  day  the  Christians 
sustained  fresh  encounters  without  being  able  to  compel 
their  enemy  to  retreat.  The  G-reeks  would  not  consent  to 
receive  them  into  the  city,  and  there  remained  to  the  Cru- 
saders no  means  of  safety.  Despair  stifled  in  their  breasts 
even  the  sentiments  of  humanity ;  every  one  of  these  unfor- 
tunate wretches  became  insensible  to  the  fate  of  his  com- 
panions, and  felt  nothing  but  his  own  ills,  saw  nothing  but 
his  own  dangers.  The  soldiers  did  not  endeavour  to  rally 
or  to  succour  each  other ;  they  no  longer  recognised  or  fol- 
lowed leaders ;  the  leaders  themselves  were  no  longer  guided 
by  the  spirit  of  religion,  or  governed  by  the  love  of  glory. 
In  the  midst  of  the  general  desolation,  Archambaud  and 
Thierri,  only  anxious  to  avoid  death,  threw  themselves  on 
board  a  vessel  which  was  going  to  join  the  fleet  of  Louis  VII. 
The  horrible  disorder  that  then  reigned  among  the  mise- 
rable remains  of  the  Christian  army  and  the  sick  in  the  city 
of  Attalia,  is  perfectly  beyond  description. 

Two  troops  of  pilgrims,  one  of  three  thousand  and  the 
other  of  four  thousand,  resolved  to  brave  all  dangers  and 


860  HISTOET   OF    THE    CErSAI>ES. 

marcli  towards  Cilicia.  Tliej  had  no  boats  to  cross  over- 
fiowing  rivers  ;  they  had  uo  arms  with  which  to  resist  the 
Turks,  and  they  ahnost  all  perished.  Others  who  followed 
them  shared  the  same  fate,  whilst  the  sick  in  the  city  of 
Attalia  were  ruthlessly  massacred.  It  has  been  a  painful 
task  for  the  historian  to  record  even  a  few  details  of  these 
frigiitful  disasters  ;  and  it  is  in  this  place  we  find  the  words 
of  the  old  chronicles  so  applicable — "  Grod  alone  knows  the 
number  of  the  mart^-rs  whose  blood  flowed  beneath  the 
blade  of  the  Turks,  and  even  under  the  sword  of  the 
Greeks." 

Many  Christians,  bewildered  by  despair,  believed  that  the 
God  who  thus  left  them  a  prey  to  so  many  ills  could  not  be 
the  true  God  ;*  three  thousand  of  them  embraced  the  faith 
of  Mahomet  and  joined  the  Mussulmans,  who  took  pity  on 
their  wretchedness.  The  Greeks  were  soon  punished  for 
their  perfidious  cruelty ;  pestilence  uniting  its  ravages  with 
those  of  war,  left  the  city  of  Attalia  almost  without  inhabi- 
tants, a  very  few  weeks  after  the  departure  of  "Louis  YII. 

"^""hen  Louis  arrived  in  the  principality  of  Aiitioch,t  he 
had  lost  tliree-fourths  of  his  armv ;  but  he  was  not  the  less 
warmly  welcomed  by  Ea^Tuond  of  Poictiers.  The  French 
who  accompanied  him  soon  forgot,  in  the  midst  of  pleasures, 
both  the  dangers  of  their  voyage  and  the  deplorable  death 
of  their  companions. 

Antioch  could  then  boast  of  haATng  within  its  walls  the 
countess  of  Thoulouse,  the  countess  of  Blois,  Sibylla  of 
TTanders,  Maurille  countess  de  Eoussy,  Talquery  duchess 
de  Bouillon,  and  several  other  ladies  celebrated  for  their 
birth  or  their  beauty.  The  fetes  which  Eaymond  gave 
them  received  additional  splendour  from  the  presence  of 
Eleanor  of  Guienne.  This  young  princess,  daughter  of 
"William  IX.  and  niece  of  the  prince  of  Antioch,  united  the 
most  seducing  gifts  of  mind  to  the  graces  of  her  person. 
She  had  been  much  admired  at  Constantinople,  and  had 
found  no  rival  in  the  court  of  Manuel.  She  was  accused, 
and  with  some  reason,  of  being  more  desirous  of  admiration 
than  became  a   Christian  queen.     It  was  neither   sincere 

*  Odo  de  Deuil  is  the  only  writer  who  speaks  of  these  events ;  but  his 
account  appears  to  us  full  of  obscurity  in  some  parts. 
t  The  19th  of  March,  1U8. 


niSTOur  OF  tue  crusades.  361 

piety  nor  an  inclination  to  perform  penance,  that  had  led 
her  to  make  a  pilgrimage  to  Constantinople.  The  fatigues 
and  dangers  of  the  journey,  the  misfortunes  of  the  Cru- 
saders, the  remembrance  of  the  holy  places,  always  present 
to  the  minds  of  true  pilgrims,  had  not  in  the  least  abated 
her  too  lively  taste  for  pleasures,  or  her  strong  inclination 
for  gallantry. 

liaymond  of  Poictiers,  amidst  the  fetes  given  to  Queen 
Eleanor,  did  not  forget  the  interests  of  his  principality;  he 
was  anxious  to  weaken  the  power  of  jS'oureddin,  the  most 
formidable  enemy  of  the  Christian  colonies,  and  ardently 
desired  that  the  Crusaders  would  assist  him  in  this  enter- 
prise. Caresses,  prayers,  presents,  nothing  w^as  spared  to 
engage  them  to  prolong  their  sojourn  in  his  states.  The 
prince  of  Antioch  addressed  himself  at  first  to  the  king  of 
France,  and  proposed  to  him,  in  a  council  of  the  barons,  to 
besiege  the  cities  of  Aleppo  and  Caesarea,  in  Syria.  This 
enterprise,  which  favoured  his  ambition,  oifered  real  advaii- 
tages  to  all  the  Christian  states  of  the  East,  which  were 
threatened  by  the  constantly  increasing  power  of  Noureddin; 
but  Louis  VIL,  who  had  been  only  brought  into  Asia  by  a 
spirit  of  devotion,  answered  Eaymond  that  he  could  engage 
himself  in  no  war  before  he  had  visited  the  lioly  places. 

The  prince  of  Antioch  did  not  allow  himself  to  be  dis- 
couraged by  this  refusal ;  he  employed  every  means  to  touch 
the  heart  of  the  queen,  and  resolved  to  make  love  subser- 
vient to  his  designs.  William  of  Tyre,  who  has  left  us  the 
portrait  of  Eaymond,  informs  us  that  he  was  '''■mild  and 
afftible  of  speech,^  exliihitinf/  in  Ids  countenance  and  manner, 
I  do  not  know  loliat  sinc/ular  grace  and  hehaviour  of  an  excel- 
lent and  magnanimous  prince ^  He  undertook  to  persuade 
Queen  Eleanor  to  prolong  her  stay  in  the  principality  of 
Antioch.  It  was  then  the  beginning  of  spring ;  the  smiling 
banks  of  the  Orontes,  the  groves  of  Daphne,  and  the  beau- 
tiful skies  of  Syria,  doubtless  added  their  charms  to  the  in- 
sinuating  speeches  of  Eaymond.  The  queen,  seduced  by 
the  prayers  of  this  prince,  infatuated  with  the  homage  of  a 
voluptuous  and  brilliant  court,  and,  if  historians  may  be  be- 
lieved, too  much  disposed  to  pleasures  and  indulgences  un- 

*  See  the  translation  of  William  of  Tyre,  book  xiii.  ch.  21. 


362  HISTORY   OF    THE    CETJSADES. 

worthy  of  lier,  warmly  solicited  the  king  to  delay  his  departure 
for  the  holy  city.  The  king,  iu  addition  to  an  austere  devotion, 
possessed  a  jealous  and  suspicious  disposition ;  the  motives 
therefore  that  made  the  queen  desirous  of  remaining  at  An- 
tioch  strengthened  his  determuiation  to  go  to  Jerusalem. 
The  instances  of  Eleanor  filled  his  mind  with  suspicions,  and 
rendered  him  still  more  inexorable ;  upon  which  Raymond, 
disappouited  in  his  hopes,  was  loud  in  his  complaints,  and 
determined  to  be  revenged.  This  prince,  says  AVilliam  of 
Tyre,  "  icas  impetuous  in  his  iciU,  and  of  so  choleric  a  dis- 
position, that  iL'hen  he  was  excited  he  listened  to  neither  rhyme 
nor  reason.^'  He  easily  communicated  his  indignation  to 
the  mind  of  Eleanor,  and  this  princess  at  once  boldly  formed 
the  project  of  separating  herself  from  Louis  YIL,  and  of 
dissolving  their  marriage,  under  the  plea  of  relationship. 
Ea^Tnond,  on  his  part,  swore  to  employ  force  and  violence 
to  detain,  his  niece  in  his  dominions.  At  length  the  king  of 
Erance,  outraged  both  as  a  husband  and  a  sovereign,  resolved 
to  precipitate  his  departui'e,  and  was  obliged  to  carry  off  his 
own  wife,  and  bear  her  into  his  camp  by  night. 

The  conduct  of  the  queen  must  have  scandalized  both  the 
infidels  and  the  Christians  of  the  East ;  and  her  example  was 
likely  to  produce  fatal  effects  in  an  army  in  which  there  were 
a  great  number  of  women.  Among  the  crowd  of  knights, 
and  even  of  Mussulmans,  who  during  her  abode  at  Antioch 
by  turns  were  favoirred  by  her  partiaUty,*  a  young  Turk  is 
particularly  mentioned,  who  received  costly  presents  from 
her,  and  for  whom  she  desired  to  abandon  the  king  of  France. 
In  such  affairs,  ingeniously  remarks  Mezerai,  "  more  is  fre- 
quently said  than  there  is ;  hut  sometimes  also  there  is  more 
than  is  said."  However  that  may  be,  Louis  ATI.  could  not 
forcret  his  dishonour,  and  felt  oblio:ed  some  years  after  to  re- 
pudiate  Eleanor,  who  married  Henry  II.,  and  bestowed  the 
duchy  of  Gruienne  upon  England,  which  was  for  Erance  one 
of  the  most  deplorable  consequences  of  this  second  crusade. 

*  Some  romancers,  and  even  some  historians,  have  advanced  that  Eleanor 
of  Guieune  was  in  love  with  Saladin,  who  founded  the  dynasty  of  the 
Ayoubites.  Saladin,  the  son  of  Ayoub,  was  born  the  same  year  that 
Eleanor  married  Louis  YII.,  and  was  scarcely  ten  years  old  at  the  time 
of  the  second  crusade.  Her  second  son,  by  Henry  II.  of  England, 
became  the  great  rival  of  Saladin  in  military  glory. — Trans. 


HISTOEY   OF   THE    CETJSADES.  363 

The  king  and  the  barons  of  Jerusalem,  who  dreaded  the 
stay  of  Louis  VII.  at  Autioch,  sent  deputies  to  conjure  him, 
in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  hasten  his  march  towards 
the  holy  city.  The  king  of  France  yielded  to  their  wishes, 
and  crossed  Syria  and  Phoenicia  without  stopping  at  the 
court  of  the  count  of  Tripoli,  who  entertained  the  same  pro- 
jects as  Raymond  of  Poictiers.  His  arrival  in  the  Holy  Land 
created  the  greatest  enthusiasm,  and  re-animated  the  hopes 
of  the  Christians.  The  people,  the  princes,  and  the  prelates 
of  Jerusalem  came  out  to  meet  him,  bearing  in  their  hands 
branches  of  olive,  and  singing  the  same  words  as  the  Saviour 
of  the  world  was  saluted  with — "  Blessed  he  lie  loJio  comes  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord^  The  emperor  of  Grermany,  who  had 
left  Europe  at  the  head  of  a  powerful  army,  had  just  reached 
Jerusalem  in  the  character  of  a  simple  pilgrim.  The  two 
monarchs  embraced,  wept  over  their  misfortunes,  and  re- 
pairing together  to  the  church  of  the  Hesurrection,  adored 
the  inscrutable  decrees  of  Providence. 

Baldwin  III.,  who  then  reigned  at  Jerusalem,  was  a  young 
prince  of  great  hope ;  and  being  as  impatient  to  extend  his 
own  renowTi  as  to  enlarge  his  kingdom,  he  neglected  no 
means  to  obtain  the  confidence  of  the  Crusaders,  and  urge 
on  the  war  against  the  Saracens.  An  assembly  was  con- 
voked at  Ptolemais,  to  deliberate  upon  the  operations  of  this 
crusade.  The  emperor  Conrad,  the  king  of  Prance,  and  the 
young  king  of  Jerusalem  repaired  thither,  accompanied  by 
their  barons  and  their  knights.  The  leaders  of  the  Chris- 
tian armies,  and  the  heads  of  the  Church  deliberated  to2:e- 
ther  upon  the  subject  of  the  holy  war  in  the  presence  of 
Queen  Melisinde,  the  marchioness  of  Austria,  and  several 
other  Grerman  and  French  ladies,  who  had  followed  the 
Crusaders  into  Asia.  In  this  brilliant  assembly  the  Chris- 
tians were  astonished  at  not  seeing  the  queen,  Eleanor  of 
Guienne,  and  were  thus  reminded  with  regret  of  the  sojourn 
at  Antioch.  The  absence  of  Raymond  of  Antioch,  and  the 
counts  of  Edessa  and  Tripoli,  who  had  not  been  invited  to 
the  meeting,  must  necessarily  have  created  sad  reflections, 
and  given  bii'th  to  presages  upon  the  effects  of  discord  among 
the  Christians  of  the  East. 

The  name  of  the  unfortunate  Josselin  was  scarcely  men^ 
tioned  in  the  council  of  the  princes  and  barons ;  nothing 

17* 


364  niSTORY  OF  the  ceusades. 

was  said  of  Edessa,  the  loss  of  wliicli  had  raised  the  entire 
"West  to  arms,  nor  of  the  conquest  of  Aleppo,  which  had 
been  proposed  bv  Eaymond  of  Antioch.  From  the  begin- 
ning of  the  reign  of  Baldwin,  the  princes  and  lords  of  Pales- 
tine had  cherished  a  project  for  extending  their  conquests 
beyond  Libanus,  and  gaining  possession  of  Damascus.  As 
the  Christians,  when  they  entered  into  a  Mussulman  pro- 
vince or  city,  divided  amongst  them  the  lands  and  the 
houses  of  the  conquered,  the  people  who  dwelt  on  the  bar- 
ren mountains  of  Judea,  the  greater  part  of  the  warriors  of 
Jerusalem,  and  even  the  clergy,  all  appeared  to  direct  their 
wishes  towards  the  territory  of  Damascus,  which  offered  the 
rich  booty  to  its  captors  of  pleasant  habitations,  and  fields 
covered  with  golden  harvests.  The  hope  of  driving  the 
Mussulmans  from  a  fertile  province,  and  enriching  them- 
selves with  their  spoils,  made  them  even  forgetful  of  the  re- 
doubtable power  of  Xoiireddin  and  the  Attabecks.  In  the 
assembly  at  Ptolemais,  it  was  resolved  to  commence  the  war 
by  the  siege  of  Damascus. 

All  the  troops  assembled  in  Gralilee  in  the  beginning  of  the 
spring,  and  advanced  towards  the  source  of  the  Jordan,  com- 
manded by  the  king  of  France,  the  emperor  of  Germany,  and 
the  king  of  Jerusalem,  preceded  by  the  patriarch  of  the  holy 
city,  bearing  the  true  cross.  The  Christian  army,  to  which 
were  attached  the  knights  of  the  Temple,  and  of  St.  John, 
in  the  early  days  of  June  set  out  from  Melchisapar,  a  little 
city,  memorable  for  the  miraculous  conversion  of  St.  Paul, 
and  crossing  the  chains  of  Libanus,  encamped  near  the  town 
of  Dary,  from  whence  they  could  see  the  city  of  Damascus. 

Damascus  is  situated  at  the  foot  of  the  Anti-Libanus, 
fortv-five  leagues  from  Jerusalem ;  hills  covered  "with  trees 
and  verdure  arise  in  the  neio-hbourhood  of  the  citv,  and  in 
its  territory  were  several  towns  which  have  maintained  a 
name  in  history.  A  river  which  falls  impetuously  from  the 
mountains,  rolls  over  a  golden-coloured  sand,  and  separating 
into  several  branches,  waters  the  city,  and  bears  freshness 
and  fertility  to  the  valley  of  Ahennefsage,  or  the  valley  of 
violets,  planted  with  all  sorts  of  fruit-trees.  The  city  of 
Damascus  was  celebrated  in  the  remotest  antiquity,  having 
seen  both  the  rise  and  fall  of  the  city  of  Palmyra,  whose 
ruins  are  still  objects  of  curiosity  and  wonder  in  its  neigh- 


HISTORY    OF    TKE    CEUSADES.  365 

bourbood.  Ezekiel  boasts  of  its  delicious  wines,  its  nume- 
rous workshops,  and  its  wools  of  admirable  tints  ;  and  several 
passages  of  Scripture  represent  Damascus  as  the  abode  of 
voluptuousness  and  delight.  The  beauty  of  its  gardens,  and 
the  magnificence  of  its  public  edifices,  many  of  which  were 
built  of  marble  of  difierent  colours,  were  much  admired. 

Damascus,  after  being  conquered  in  turn  by  the  Hebrews, 
the  kings  of  Assyria,  and  the  successors  of  Alexander,  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  Romans.  From  the  age  of  Augustus 
the  preaching  of  St.  Paul  had  filled  it  with  Christians ;  but 
at  the  beginning  of  the  Hegira  it  was  attacked  and  taken 
by  the  lieutenants  of  Mahomet,  and  a  great  part  of  the 
inhabitants,  who,  after  capitulation,  endeavoured  to  seek  an 
asylum  in  Constantinople,  were  pursued  and  massacred  by 
the  fi.erce  conquerors,  in  the  territories  of  Tripoli. 

From  this  time,  Damascus,  which  formed  a  government 
or  a  principality,  had  remained  in  the  power  of  the  Mussid- 
mans.  At  the  period  of  the  second  crusade,  this  principality, 
attacked  by  turns  by  the  Franks,  the  Ortokides,  and  the 
Attabecks,  and  almost  reduced  to  nothing  but  its  capital, 
belonged  to  a  Mussulman  prince,  who  had  no  less  occasion 
to  defend  himself  against  the  ambition  of  the  emirs  than 
the  invasion  of  foreign  enemies.  Noureddin,  master  of 
Aleppo  and  several  other  cities  of  Syria,  had  already  made 
several  attempts  to  gain  possession  of  Damascus,  and  had 
by  no  means  abandoned  the  hopes  of  uniting  it  to  his  other 
conquests,  when  the  Christians  formed  the  resolution  of 
besieging  it. 

The  city  was  defended  by  high  walls  on  the  east  and  the 
south;  whilst  on  the  west  and  the  north  it  had  no  other  de- 
fence but  its  numerous  gardens,  planted  with  trees,  in  all  parts 
of  which  were  raised  palisades,  walls  of  earth,  and  little  towers, 
in  which  they  could  place  archers.  The  Crusaders,  when 
ready  to  begin  the  siege,  resolved  in  a  coimcil  to  take  pos- 
session of  the  gardens  first,  hoping  to  find  therein  water  and 
abundance  of  fruits.  But  the  enterprise  was  not  Avithout 
great  difficulties ;  for  the  orchards,  which  extended  to  the 
foot  of  the  Anti-Libanus,  were  like  a  vast  forest,  crossed  by 
narrow  paths,  ni  which  two  men  coiild  scarcely  walk  abreast. 
The  infidels  had  everywhere  thro^vn  up  intrenchments, 
where  they  could,  without  danger  to  themselves,  resist  the 


866  nisTOEY  OF  the  crusades. 

attacks  of  the  Crusaders.  !N"otliing  could,  however,  damp 
the  braverv  and  ardour  of  the  Christian  army,  which  pene- 
trated on  several  sides  into  the  gardens.  From  the  heights 
of  the  little  towers,  from  the  interior  of  the  wall  enclosures, 
and  from  the  bosoms  of  the  bushv  trees,  clouds  of  arrows 
and  javelins  were  showered  upon  them.  Every  step  taken 
by  the  Christians  in  these  covered  places  was  marked  by  a 
combat  in  which  they  could  scarcely  see  their  enemy.  The 
infidels,  however,  attacked  without  intermission,  were,  in  the 
end,  obHged  to  abandon  the  positions  they  had  occupied  and 
fortified.  The  king  of  Jerusalem  marched  first  at  the  head 
of  his  army  and  the  knights  of  St.  Jolni  and  of  the  Temple ; 
after  the  Christians  of  the  East,  advanced  the  Erench  Cru- 
saders, commanded  by  Louis  YII. ;  whilst  the  emperor  of 
Grermany,  who  had  got  together  the  poor  remains  of  his 
army,  formed  the  body  of  reserve,  to  protect  the  besiegers 
from  the  surprises  of  the  enemy. 

The  king  of  Jerusalem  pursued  the  Mussulmans  with 
ardour ;  his  soldiers  rushing  vrith.  him  into  the  midst  of  the 
enemy's  ranks,  comparing  their  leader  to  David,  who,  accord- 
ing to  Josephus,  had  conquered  a  king  of  Damascus.  The 
Saracens,  after  an  obstinate  resistance,  united  on  the  banks 
of  the  river  which  flows  under  its  walls,  to  drive  away  with 
arrows  and  stones  the  crowd  of  Christians  brought  thither 
bv  faticrue  and  heat.  The  warriors  commanded  bv  Baldwin 
endeavoured  several  times  to  break  through  the  army  of  the 
Mussulmans,  but  always  met  with  an  invincible  resistance. 
It  was  then  the  emperor  of  Germany  signahzed  his  bravery 
by  a  deed  of  arms  worthy  of  the  heroes  of  the  first  crusade. 
Followed  by  a  small  number  of  his  people,  he  passed  through 
the  Erench  army,  whom  the  difficulties  of  the  situation 
almost  prevented  from  fighting,  and  took  his  place  in  the 
vanguai'd  of  the  Crusaders.  Nothing  could  resist  the  impe- 
tuosity of  his  attack,  all  who  opposed  him  falling  beneath 
his  arm ;  when  a  Saracen  of  gigantic  stature,  and  completely 
clothed  in  armour,  advanced  to  meet  him,  and  defy  him  to 
the  combat.  The  emperor  at  once  accepted  the  challenge, 
and  flew  to  meet  the  Mussulman  warrior.  At  the  sight  of 
this  singular  combat,  the  two  armies  remained  motionless, 
waiting  in  fear,  till  one  of  the  champions  had  defeated  the 
other,  to  re-commence  the  battle.     The  Saracen  warrior  was 


HISTORY   OF    THE    CRUSADES.  367 

soon  liurled  from  his  horse,  and  Conrad  with  one  hlow  of  his 
sword,  dealt  npon  the  shoulder  of  the  Mussulman,  divided 
his  body  into  two  parts.*  This  prodigy  of  valour  and 
strength  redoubled  the  ardour  of  the  Christians,  and  spread 
terror  among  the  infidels.  From  this  moment  the  Mussul- 
mans began  to  seek  safety  within  the  walls  of  the  city,  and 
left  the  Crusaders  masters  of  tlie  banks  of  the  river. 

Eastern  authors  speak  of  the  fright  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Damascus  after  the  victory  of  the  Christians.  The  Mussul- 
mans prostrated  themselves t  upon  ashes  during  several  days; 
they  exposed  in  the  middle  of  the  great  mosque,  the  Koran 
compiled  by  Omar ;  and  women  and  children  gathered  around 
the  sacred  book  to  invoke  the  aid  of  Mahomet  against  their 
enemies.  The  besieged  already  contemplated  abandoning 
the  city ;  they  placed  in  the  streets,  towards  the  entrance 
into  the  gardens,  large  posts,  chains,  and  heaps  of  stones,  in 
order  to  retard  the  march  of  the  besiegers,  and  thus  to  afford 
them  time  to  fly  with  their  riches  and  their  families  by  the 
north  and  south  gates. 

The  Christians  were  so  thoroughly  persuaded  they  should 
shortly  be  masters  of  Damascus,  that  it  became  a  question 
among  the  leaders,  to  whom  the  sovereignty  of  the  city 
should  be  given.  The  greater  part  of  the  barons  and  lords 
who  were  in  the  Christian  army,  courted  the  favour  of  the 
king  of  France  and  the  emperor  of  Germany,  and  all  at 
once  forgot  the  siege  of  the  city,  in  their  earnest  endeavours 
to  obtain  the  government  of  it.  Thierri  of  Alsace,  count  of 
Flanders,  who  had  been  twice  in  Palestine  before  the  cru- 
sade, and  who  had  given  up  to  his  family  all  his  possessions 
in  Europe,  solicited  the  principality  more  warmly  than  the 
others,  and  prevailed  over  his  opponents  and  rivals.  This 
preference  gave  birth  to  jealousy,  and  infused  discouragement 
in  the  army ;  as  long  as  the  city  they  were  about  to  conquer 
remained  a  bait  for  their  ambition,  the  leaders  showed  them- 

*  Percussit  eum  inter  coUura  et  sinistrum  humerura  ictu  mirabili ;  ita 
quod  ensis  secuit  totutn  pectus  cum  humeris  et  descendit  obliquando 
usque  ad  latus  dextrum,  taliter  quod  pars  dexteiior  abscissa  penitiis  cum 
capita  cecidit  super  terram,  et  tunc  oranes  Turci,  qui  ictum  tarn  formida- 
biiem  viderant  stupefacti,  statim  fug4  remedio  nostrorum  gladios  evase- 
runt. — G.  C.  chap.  ii. 

■f"  All  these  details,  and  some  others  which  were  not  known  to  the 
authors  of  the  West,  are  taken  from  the  Arabian  chronicle  of  Ibnferat. 


368  nisTOET  OF  the  ceusades. 

selves  full  of  ardour  and  courage,  but  ^YbeIl  tbey  were  with- 
out hope,  some  remained  inactive,  whilst  others,  no  longer 
regardiug  the  Christian  glory  as  their  own  cause,  sought 
every  means  to.  insure  the  failure  of  an  enterprise  from 
which  they  should  reap  no  personal  advantage. 

The  leaders  of  the  besieged  took  advantage  of  these  feel- 
ings to  open  negotiations  with  the  Crusaders.  Their  threats, 
their  promises  and  presents,  succeeded  in  destroying  what 
remained  of  the  zeal  and  enthusiasm  of  the  Christians. 
They  addressed  themselves  particularly  to  the  barons  of 
Syria,  and  exhorted  them  to  be  on  their  guard  against  war- 
riors come,  as  they  said,  from  the  West,  to  take  possession 
of  the  Christian  cities  of  Asia.  They  threatened  to  deliver 
up  Damascus  to  the  new  master  of  the  East,  Xoureddin, 
whom  nothing  could  resist,  and  who  would  soon  take  pos- 
session of  the  kinofdom  of  Jerusalem.  The  barons  of  Svria, 
whether  deceived  by  these  speeches,  or  that,  in  theu*  hearts, 
they  dreaded  the  successes  of  the  Franks  who  had  come  to 
succour  them,  employed  themselves  only  in  retarding  the 
operarions  of  a  siege  they  had.  themselves  prosecuted  with 
ardour ;  and,  abusing  the  confidence  of  the  Crusaders, 
they  proposed  a  plan,  which,  being  adopted  too  hghtly,  com- 
pleted the  ruin  of  all  the  hopes  that  had  been  bmlt  on  this 
crusade. 

In  a  council,  the  barons  of  S^Tia  proposed  to  the  leaders 
to  change  the  mode  of  attack ;  the  closeness  of  the  gardens 
and  the  river,  said  they,  prevented  the  placing  of  the  ma- 
chines of  war  in  an  advantas:eous  manner  :  and  the  Christian 
armv,  in  the  position  it  occupied,  might  be  surprised,  and 
ran  the  risk  of  beius:  surrounded  bv  the  enemv  ^^ithout  the 
power  of  defending  itself.  It  appeared  to  them,  therefore, 
much  more  certaui  and  safe  to  assault  the  city  on  the  south 
and  east  sides. 

Most  of  the  chiefs  possessed  more  valour  than  prudence, 
and  the  confidence  which  victory  inspired  made  them  think 
everything  possible :  besides,  how  could  they  mistrust  the 
Christians  of  the  East,  for  whom  they  had  taken  up  arms, 
and  who  were  then.'  brothers  ?  In  addition  to  this,  the  fear 
of  dragguig  out  the  siege  to  a  gi-eat  length  made  them  adopt 
the  advice  of  the  barons  of  Syria.  After  having  changed 
their  points  of  attack,  the  Christian  army,  instead  of  finding 


HISTORY   OF    THE    CRUSADES.  369 

easy  access  to  the  place,  saw  nothing  before  them  but  towers 
and  impregnable  ramparts.  Scarcely  had  the  Christians 
seated  themselves  in  their  new  camp  when  the  city  of 
Damascus  received  vrithin  its  walls  a  troop  of  twenty  thou- 
sand Curds  and  Turcomans,  determined  to  defend  it.  The 
besieged,  whose  courage  was  raised  by  the  arrival  of  these 
auxiliaries,  put  on,  says  an  Arabian  historian,  the  buckler  of 
victory,  and  made  several  sorties,  in  which  they  gained  the 
advantage  over  the  Cin-istians.  The  Crusaders,  on  their 
part,  made  several  assaults  upon  the  city,  and  were  always 
repulsed.  Encamped  upon  an  arid  plain,  they  were  desti- 
tute of  water ;  all  the  adjacent  country  had  been  devastated 
by  the  infidels,  and  the  corn  that  had  escaped  the  ravages  of 
war  was  concealed  in  caves  and  subterranean  hiding-places, 
which  they  could  not  discover.  The  Christian  army  wanted 
pro^dsions  ;  then  discord  revived  among  them ;  nothing  was 
spoken  of  in  the  camp  but  perfidy  and  treason ;  the  Chris- 
tians of  Syria  no  longer  united  with  the  Christians  of 
Europe  in  their  attacks  upon  the  city ;  they  were  j?(.)Ou  iii- 
formed  that  the  sultans  of  Aleppo  and  Mossoul  were  coming 
with  a  numerous  army ;  then  they  despaired  of  taking  the 
city,  and  raised  the  siege.  Thus  the  Christians,  without 
having  exercised  their  constancy,  or  tested  their  courage, 
abandoned,  at  the  end  of  a  few  days,  an  enterprise,  the  pre- 
parations for  which  had  cost  so  much  to  Europe,  and  raised 
such  expectations  in  Asia.  One  of  the  circumstances  of 
this  siege  the  most  Avorthy  of  remark  is,  that  Ayoub,  chief 
of  the  dynasty  of  the  Ayoubites,  commanded  the  troops  of 
Damascus,  and  that  he  had  with  him  his  son,  the  young 
Saladin,  who  was  destined  one  day  to  be  so  formidable  to 
the  Christians,  and  render  himself  master  of  Jerusalem. 
Tlie  eldest  son  of  Ayoub  having  been  killed  in  a  sortie,  the 
inhabitants  of  Damascus  raised  a  tomb  of  marble  to  his 
memory,  which  was  to  be  seen  under  the  ramparts  of  the 
city  many  centuries  after.  An  old  Mussulman  priest,  who 
had  passed  more  than  forty  years  in  a  neighbouring  cavern, 
was  obliged  to  quit  his  retreat,  and  came  into  the  city  which 
the  Christians  were  besieging.  He  regretted  his  solitude 
troubled  by  the  din  of  war,  and  became  ambitious  of  gather- 
ing the  palm  of  martyrdom.  In  spite  of  the  representations 
of  his  disciples,  he  advanced,  unarmed,  in  the  front  of  the 


370  HISTOEY    or    THE    CEVSADES. 

Crusaders,  found  on  the  field  of  battle  the  death  he 
desired,  and  was  honoured  as  a  saint  hj  the  people  of 
Damascus. 

If  we  mav  believe  the  Arabian  historians,  the  Christian 
ecclesiastics  who  followed  the  army  nes^lected  no  means  of 
rekindling  the  enthusiasm  of  the  soldiers  of  the  cross. 
Dui-iug  a  conflict  under  the  walls  of  the  city,  a  grey-headed 
Christian  priest,  mounted  on  a  mule,  and  carrying  a  cross  in 
his  hands,  advanced  between  the  two  armies,  exhorting  the 
Crusaders  to  redouble  their  braver}'  and  ardour,  and  pro- 
mising them,  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  conquest  of 
Damascus.  The  Mussulmans  directed  all  their  arrows  at 
him ;  the  Christians  pressed  around  to  defend  him ;  the 
combat  became  fierce  and  bloody ;  the  priest  fell  at  length 
pierced  with  many  wounds,  upon  a  heap  of  slain,  and  the 
Crusaders  abandoned  the  field  of  battle. 

The  greater  part  of  both  Arabian  and  Latin  authors* 
describe  the  siege  of  Damascus  in  a  contradictory  manner, 
but  all  aojree  in  attributino:  the  retreat  of  the  Christians  to 

DO 

treachery.  A  Mussulman  historian  asserts  that  the  king  of 
Jerusalem  received  considerable  sums  from  the  inhabitants 
of  Damascus,  and  that  he  was  deceived  by  the  besieged, 
who  gave  him  pieces  of  lead  covered  with  a  thin  coating  of 
gold.f  Some  Latin  authors  attribute  the  shameful  raising 
of  the  siege  to  the  covetousness  of  the  Templars ;  others  to 
^Raymond  of  Antioch,  who  burned  to  revenge  himself  on  the 
king  of  France,     ^"illiam  of  Tvre,  whose  opinion  ought  to 

*  Abulfeda,  Abulfarage,  and  some  other  Arabian  historians  speak  of 
tlie  siege  of  Damascus  ;  but  it  is  difficiilt  to  reconcile  their  account  with 
that  of  the  Latins.  We  have  taken  some  few  circumstances  from  them 
that  appeared  the  most  probable.  The  Chronicle  of  Ibuferat  is  that  which 
gives  the  most  circumstantial  details. 

f  The  Chronicle  of  Geuvais  attributes  the  retreat  of  the  Christians  to 
the  pertidy  of  the  Templars  : — Cum  civitas  Christianis  reddenda  esset, 
accesserunt  Templarii.  dicentes  se  primam  habituros  pugnam,  ut  omnes 
deinde  in  communi  victoriam  obtinerent,  statuerunt  itaque  tentoria  sua 
inter  civitatera  et  exercitum  Christianorum,  et  cum  his  qui  erant  in  civitate 
paganis  proditionis  pactum  inierunt.  Cives  igitur  eorum  agnoscentes 
cupiditafem,  promi^erunt  eis  tres  cados  plenos  hisantis  aureis,  si  eos  ab 
obsidione  liberarent.  Delusi  itaque  Christiani  per  milites  Temph,  Damasco 
recesserunt.  Post  modicum  vero  cum  Templarii  promissos  a  viribua 
recipissent  cados,  in  eisdem  non  nummos  aureos,  sed  cunreos  invenerant, 
miraculoque  quae  ascripserunt. 


HTSTOET    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  371 

have  great  weight,  accuses  the  barons  of  S}Tia;*  but  surely 
all  must  blame  the  ignorance  and  incapacity  of  the  other 
chiefs  of  the  crusade,  who  followed  advice  without  examining 
it,  and  proved  themselves  incapable  of  remedying  an  evil 
they  had  not  foreseen. 

After  so  unfortunate  an  attempt,  it  was  natural  to  despair 
of  the  success  of  this  war.  In  the  council  of  leaders  the 
siege  of  Ascalon  was  proposed,  but  men's  minds  were  soured, 
and  their  courage  v»as  depressed.  The  king  of  France  and 
the  emperor  of  Germany  thought  of  returning  into  Europe, 
bearing  back  no  other  glory  than  that  of  having,  the  one 
defended  his  o\^ti  life  against  some  soldiers  on  a  rock  in 
Pamphylia,  and  the  other  of  having  cleft  a  giant  in  two 
under  the  walls  of  Damascus.  "  From  that  day,"  says  Wil- 
liam of  Tyre,  "  the  condition  and  state  of  the  Oriental  Latins 
began  continually  to  proceed  from  bad  to  worse."  The  Mus- 
sulmans learnt  no  longer  to  dread  the  warriors  and  princes  of 
the  West.  Full  of  confidence  in  their  arms,  they  who  had 
only  thought  of  defending  themselves,  formed  the  project  of 
attacking  the  Franks,  and  were  excited  to  their  enterprise 
by  the  hopes  of  sharing  the  spoils  of  an  enemy  who  had 
invaded  several  of  their  provinces.  Whilst  the  infidels  thus 
regained  their  daring  and  their  pride,  and  united  against 
their  enemies,  discouragement  took  possession  of  the  Chris- 
tians, and  the  division  which  prevailed  so  fataUy  among 
them  weakened  every  day  their  spirit  and  their  power.  "  The 
Franks  who  returned  into  Europe"  (we  leave  William  of 
T}Te  to  speak)  "  could  not  forget  the  perfidies  of  the  Oriental 
princes,  and  not  only  showed  themselves  more  careless  and 
tardy  concerning  the  aftairs  of  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem, 
but  discouraged  all  those  equally  who  had  not  been  the 
voyage  with  them,  so  that  they  who  heard  speak  of  this 
crusade  never  after  undertook  the  road  of  this  peregrination 
with  so  much  good-will  or  so  much  fervour." 

This  crusade  was  much  more  unfortunate  than  the  first ; 
no  kind  of  glory  mitigated  or  set  oft'  the  reverses  of  the 
Christians.  The  leaders  committed  the  same  faults  that 
Godfrey  and  his  companions  had  committed ;  they  neglected, 
as  they  had  done,  to  found  a  colony  in  Asia  Minor,  and  to 

*  William  of  Tj/re,  b.  xvii.  chap.  6. 


372  HisTOBT  or  the  ceusadzs. 

posaeflB  themselves  of  cities  which  might  protect  the  march 
of  pilgrims  into  Syria.  "We  admire  the  patience  with  which 
they  endured  the  outrages  and  the  perfidies  of  the  Greeks ; 
but  this  moderation,  more  rehgious  than  poUtic,  only  led 
them  to  their  ruin.  We  must  add  that  they  entertained  too 
low  an  opioion  of  the  Turks,  and  did  not  take  sufficient 
heed  of  the  means  necessary  to  contend  with  them.  The 
Grermans,  in  particular,  were  so  fuU  of  confidence,  that, 
according  to  the  report  of  !Xicetas,  they  would  rather  have 
thought  of  taking  shovels  and  pick-axes  with  them  than 
swords  or  lances,  believing  that  they  had  nothing  to  do  but 
to  cut  themselves  a  road  across  Asia  ]Minor.  By  another 
singularity,  the  Crusaders,  in  this  war,  did  not  employ  the 
cross-bow*  which  a  council  of  the  Lateran  had  condemned 
as  too  miurderous,  and  the  use  of  which  was  interdicted  to 
the  warriors  of  the  West.  The  infantry  was  left  almost 
without  arms,  and  when  the  Crusaders  had  lost  their  cavalry, 
thev  had  no  defence  against  an  enemy. 

The  Christian  armies,  as  in  the  first  crusade,  dragged  in 
their  traiu  a  great  number  of  cliildren.  women,  and  old  men, 
who  could  do  nothing:  towards  victorv.  and  vet  alwavs  oreatlv 
augmented  the  disorder  and  despair  consequent   upon   a 
defeat.     With  this  multitude  no  discipline  could  be  esta- 
blished ;  nor  is  it  apparent  that  the  leaders  made  any  attempt 
to  prevent  the  etfects   of  Hcense.      Geofii^ey  de  Eancon, 
whose  imprudence  caused  the  destruction  of  half  the  French 
armT.  and  placed  the  king  of  France  in  the  greatest  peril, 
had  no  other  punishment  but  his  repentance,  and  thought 
he  expiated  his  neglect  of  duty  by  prostrating  himself  at 
the  tomb  of  Christ.     That  which  was  still  more  injurious  to 
discipline  was  the  depravity-  of  manners  in  the  Christian 
army,  which  must  be  principally  attributed  to  the  gi'eat 
number  of  women  that  had  taken  arms,  and  mixed  in.  the 
raiil:f=  of  the  soldiery.     La.  this  crusade  there  was  a  troop  of 
A--:.  OS,  commanded  by  a  general  whose  dress  was  much 
:    : :  e  admired  than  her  courage,  and  whose  gilded  boots 
r         rd  her  the  name  of  "  tlie  lady  with  the  legs  of  gold.'' ^ 
Another  cause  of  the  dissoluteness  of  manners  was  the 
extreme  facility  with  which  the  most  vicious  men,  even  con- 
vi  r- 1    malefactors,  were    admitted   amone  the   Crusaders, 
be.  Bernard,  who  considered  the  crusade  as  a  road  to  heaven, 


HISTOEY    OF   THE    CSUSADES.  373 

summoned  the  greatest  sinners  to  take  part  in  it,  and  re- 
joiced at  seeing  them  thus  enter  into  the  way  of  eternal  Kfe. 
In  a  council  of  liheims,  of  which  the  abbot  of  Clam'aux  was 
the  oracle,  it  was  decreed  that  incendiaries  should  be 
punished  by  serving  Grod  one  year  either  in  Jerusalem  or 
JSpain.  The  ardent  preacher  of  the  holy  war  did  not  reflect 
that  great  sinners,  enrolled  under  the  banners  of  the  cross, 
woidd  be  exposed  to  new  temptations,  and  that  during  a 
long  voyage  it  would  be  much  more  easy  for  them  to  corrupt 
their  companions  than  to  amend  their  own  conduct.  Dis- 
orders were  unhappily  tolerated  by  the  leaders,  who  beHeved 
that  Heaven  was  ever  indulgent  towards  Crusaders,  and  did 
not  wish  to  be  more  severe  than  it. 

And  yet  the  Christian  army,  amidst  a  most  frightful  state 
of  morals,  presented  examples  of  an  austere  piety.  Sur- 
rounded by  the  dangers  of  war,  and  harassed  by  the  fatigues 
of  a  long  pilgrimage,  the  king  of  France  never  neglected 
the  most  minute  practices  of  rehgion.  The  greater  part  of 
the  leaders  took  him  for  their  model,  and  when  in  camp, 
paid  more  attention  to  religious  processions  than  to  mihtary 
exercises ;  so  that  many  warriors  actually  placed  more  con- 
fidence in  then'  prayers  than  in  their  arms.  In  general, 
through  the  whole  of  this  crusade,  sufficient  dependence  was 
not  placed  on  human  means  and  human  prudence, — every- 
thing was  left  to  Pro\'idence,  which  seldom  protects  those 
who  stray  from  the  ways  of  reason  and  wisdom. 

The  first  crusade  had  two  distinctive  characters, — piety 
and  heroism ;  the  second  had  scarcely  any  other  principle 
but  a  piety  which  parrook  more  of  the  devotion  of  the 
cloister  than  of  a  generous  enthusiasm.  The  influence  of 
the  monks  who  had  preached  it,  and  who  then  meddled  very 
much  in  temporal  affairs,  was  but  too  evident  through  the 
whole  of  this  crusade.  The  king  of  France  in  his  misfor- 
tunes displayed  nothing  but  the  resignation  of  a  martyr,  and 
in  the  field  of  battle  was  only  distinguished  by  the  ardour 
and  courage  of  a  soldier.  The  emperor  of  G-ermany  did  not 
evince  greater  ability ;  he  lost  all  by  his  mad  presumption, 
and  from  having  thought  himself  able  to  conquer  the  Turks 
without  the  assistance  of  the  Frencli.  Both  were  Kmited 
in  their  views,  and  were  greatly  wanting  in  that  energv 
which   produces   great   actioas.     In  the  expedition  which 


374  HISTOET   OF    THE    CEIJSADES. 

they  directed,  there  was  notMng  elevated,  everything  seemed 
to  keep  down  to  the  level  of  their  character.  In  a  word,  this 
war  developed  neither  heroic  passions  nor  chivalric  qualities. 
Camps  had  no  great  captains  to  admire  or  imitate ;  and  the 
period  we  have  described  can  boast  of  only  two  men  of 
marked  genius, — he  who  had  roused  the  Western  world  by 
liis  eloquence,  and  the  wise  minister  of  Louis,  who  had  to 
repair  in  France  all  the  misfortunes  of  the  crusade. 

All  the  energies  of  this  crusade  were  not  directed  against 
Asia.  Several  preachers,  authorized  by  the  Holy  See,  had 
exhorted  the  inhabitants  of  Saxony  and  Denmark  to  take  up 
arms  against  some  nations  of  the  Baltic,  still  plunged  in  the 
darkness  of  paganism.  This  crusade  was  led  by  Henry  of 
Saxony,  several  other  princes,  and  a  great  number  of  bishops 
and  archbishops.  An  army,  composed  of  a  hunded  and  fifty 
thousand  Crusaders,  attacked  the  barbarous  and  savage 
nation  of  the  Sclaves,  who  unceasingly  ravaged  the  sea- 
coasts,  and  made  war  upon  the  Christians.  The  Christian 
warriors  wore  upon  their  breasts  a  red  cross,  under  which 
was  a  round  figure,  representing  and  symbolizing  the  earth, 
which  ought  to  be  obedient  to  the  laws  of  Christ.  Preachers 
of  the  gospel  accompanied  their  march,  and  exhorted  them 
to  extend  the  limits  of  Christian  Eiurope  by  their  exploits. 
The  Crusaders  consigned  to  the  flames  several  idolatrous 
temples,  and  destroyed  the  city  of  Malehon,  in  which  the 
pagan  priests  were  accustomed  to  assemble.  In  this  holy 
war  the  Saxons  treated  a  pagan  people  exactly  as  Charle- 
magne had  treated  their  own  ancestors ;  but  they  were  not 
able  to  subdue  the  Sclaves.  After  a  war  of  three  years,  the 
Saxon  and  Danish  Crusaders  grew  M'eary  of  pursuing  an 
enemy  defended  by  the  sea,  and  still  further  by  their  despair. 
They  made  proposals  of  peace ;  the  Sclaves,  on  their  part, 
promised  to  become  converts  to  Clmstianity,  and  to  respect 
Christian  people.*  They  only  made  these  promises  to  pacify 
their  enemies ;  and  when  the  latter  laid  down  their  arms, 
they  retiurned  to  their  idols  and  resumed  their  pii-acies. 

*  This  crusade  from  the  north  is  mentioned  by  Otto  of  Frisingen. 
Saxo  the  grammarian  gives  the  most  ample  details  in  his  thirteenth  book. 
The  reader  may  likewise  consult  the  Latin  History  of  Germany,  by 
Kruntz.  The  History  of  Denmark,  by  Mallet,  does  not  say  a  word  of 
this  war. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    CRUSADES.  375 

Other  Crusaders,  to  whom  Christendom  paid  very  little 
attention,  prosecuted  a  more  successful  war  on  the  banks  of 
the  Tagus.  It  was  several  centuries  since  Spain  had  been 
invaded  by  the  Moors,  and  still  two  rival  nations  disputed 
empire  and  fought  for  territory  in  the  names  of  Maliomet 
and  Jesus  Christ.*  The  Moors,  often  conquered  by  the  Cid 
and  his  companions,  had  been  driven  from  several  provinces, 
and  when  the  second  crusade  set  out  for  the  East,  the 
Spaniards  were  besieging  the  city  of  Lisbon.  The  Christian 
army,  small  in  numbers,  was  in  daily  expectation  of  rein- 
forcements, when  a  fleet  which  was  transporting  to  the  East 
a  great  number  of  French  Crusaders,  entered  the  mouth  of 
the  Tagus.  Alphonso,  a  prince  of  the  house  of  Burgundy 
and  grandson  of  King  Kobert,  commanded  the  besieging 
army.  He  visited  the  Christian  warriors,  whom  Heaven 
appeared  to  have  sent  to  his  assistance,  and  promised,  as 
the  reward  of  their  co-operation,  the  conquest  of  a  flourishing 
kingdom.  He  exhorted  them  to  join  him  in  combating 
those  same  Saracens  whom  they  were  going  to  seek  in  Asia 
through  all  the  perils  of  the  sea.  "  The  Grod  who  had  sent 
them  would  bless  their  army ;  noble  pay  and  rich  possessions 
would  be  the  meed  of  their  valour."  Nothing  more  was 
necessary  to  persuade  warriors  who  had  made  a  vow  to  fight 
with  the  infidels  and  who  were  eager  for  adventures.  They 
abandoned  their  vessels  and  joined  the  besiegers.  The  Moors 
opposed  them  with  determined  pertinacity,  but  at  the  end 
of  four  months  Lisbon  was  taken,  and  the  garrison  put  to 
the  sword.  They  afterwards  besieged  several  other  cities, 
which  were  wrested  from  the  Saracens  ;  Portugal  submitted 
to  the  power  of  Alphonso,  and  he  assumed  the  title  of  king. 
Amidst  these  conquests  the  Crusaders  forgot  the  East,  and, 
without  incurring  much  danger,  they  founded  a  prosperous 


*  Arnold,  a  Flemish  preacher,  on  the  publication  of  the  second  crusade, 
exhorted  the  nations  of  France  and  Germany  to  enrol  themselves  in  this 
pious  army;  he  followed  the  Crusaders  who  laid  siege  to  Lisbon,  under 
the  command  of  Arnold  count  d'Arschot.  Arnold  sent  an  account  of  this 
siege  to  Milo,  bishop  of  Terouane,  in  a  letter  published  by  Dom  Martene, 
in  the  first  volume  of  his  great  collection,  upon  two  manuscripts.  The 
relation  of  Arnold,  an  eye-witness,  different  from  that  of  Robert  of  the 
Mount,  is  adopted  by  Fleury.  The  historian  of  Portugal,  Manoel  de 
Faria  y  Sousa,  speaks  also  of  this  expedition  of  the  Crusaders. 


376  HisTOET  or  the  ceusades. 

and  splendid  kingdom,  whicli  lasted  mucli  longer  tlian  that 
cf  Jerusalem. 

We  may  judge  by  these  crusades,  undertaken  at  tlie  same 
time,  against  nations  of  the  north  and  others  of  the  south, 
that  the  principle  of  holy  wars  began  to  assume  a  new  cha- 
racter ;  Crusaders  did  not  light  only  for  the  possession  of  a 
sepulchre,  but  they  took  up  arms  to  defend  their  religion 
AvhereTer  it  might  be  attacked,  and  to  make  it  triumphant 
among  all  nations  that  rejected  its  laws  and  refused  its 
benefits.  The  diversity  of  interests  which  set  the  Crusaders 
in  action,  necessarily  divided  their  forces,  weakened  their 
enthusiasm,  and  was  sure  to  be  injurious  to  the  success  of  a 
holy  war. 

France,  which  then  turned  anxious  looks  towards  Pales- 
tine, no  longer  demanded  of  God  the  deliverance  of  the  holy 
places,  but  the  return  of  a  king  over  whose  misfortunes  they 
had  wept.     For  a  length  of  time,  Suger,  who  was  unable  to 
sustain  the  royal  authority,  had  endeavoured  to  recall  his 
master  by  letters  full  of  tenderness  and  devotion.     Their 
internew,  which  proved  an  affecting  spectacle  for  the  French, 
alarmed  the  courtiers,  who  were  desii-ous  of  awakening  sus- 
picions of  the  fidehty  of  the  minister.     A  kingdom  at  peace 
and  a  flourisliing  people  were  the  reply  of  Suger.     The  king 
praised  his  zeal,  and  bestowed  upon  him  the  title  of  Father 
of  his  Coimtiy.     Suger  enjoyed  a  great  advantage,   as  he 
had  been  the  only  man  of  any  consequence  in  Europe  who 
had  opposed  the  crusade.     His  wise  foresight  was  everywhere 
the  subject  of  praise,  whilst  all  complaints  were  directed 
ao^ainst  St.  Bernard.     There  was  not  a  familv  in  the  king- 
dom  that  was  not  in  mourning ;  and  the  same  desolation 
reigned  throughout  Germany.    So  many  widows  and  orphans 
had  never  been  seen,  and  the  glory  of  mart^Tdom,  promised 
to  all  whose  loss  was  regretted,  had  no  power  to  dry  their 
tears.     The  abbot  of  Clairvaux  was  accused  of  having  sent 
Christians  to  die  in  the  East,  as  if  Em-ope  had  been  lis-ithout 
sepulchres  ;  and  the  partisans  of  St.  Bernard,  who  had  seen 
his  mission  attested  by  his  miracles,  not  knowing  what  to 
replv,  were  struck  ^ith  stupor  and  astonishment.     ''  God,  in 
these  latter  days,"  said  they  among  themselves,  "has  neither 
spared  his  people  nor  his  name  ;  the  children  of  the  Church 
have  been  given  over  to  death  in  the  desert,  or  massacred  by 
the  sword,  or  devom'ed  "by  hunger ;  the  contempt  of  the 


HISTOET   OF    THE    CRUSADES.  377 

Lord  lias  fallen  even  upon  princes ;  Grod  liaa  left  them  to 
wander  in  unkno^Yn  ways,  and  all  sorts  of  pains  and  afflic- 
tions have  been  strevred  upon  their  paths."  So  many  evils 
resulting  from  a  holy  war,  from  a  war  undertaken  in  the 
name  of  Grod,  confounded  the  Christians  who  had  most 
applauded  the  crusade,  and  St,  Bernard  himself  was  aston- 
ished that  God  had  been  willing  to  judge  the  universe  before 
the  time,  and  without  remembrance  of  his  mercy.  "  What 
a  disgrace  is  it  for  us,"  said  he  in  an  apology  addressed  to 
the  pope,  "  for  us  who  went  everywhere  announcing  peace 
and  happiness  !  Have  we  conducted  oiu-selves  rashly  ? 
Have  our  courses  been  adopted  from  fantasy  ?  Have  we 
not  followed  the  orders  of  the  head  of  the  Church  and  those 
of  the  Lord  ?  AVhy  has  not  Grod  regarded  our  fasts  ?  Why 
has  he  appeared  to  know  nothing  of  our  humiliations  ?  With 
what  patience  is  he  now  listening  to  the  sacrilegious  and 
blasphemous  voices  of  the  nations  of  Arabia,  who  accuse 
him  of  having  led  his  people  into  the  desert  that  they  might 
perish!  All  the  world  knows,"  added  he,  "  that  the  judg- 
ments of  the  Lord  are  just ;  but  this  is  so  profound  an 
abyss,  that  he  may  be  called  happy  who  is  not  disgraced  by 
it."  St.  Bernard  was  so  thoroughly  persuaded  that  the 
unfortunate  issue  of  the  crusade  would  furnish  the  wicked 
with  an  excuse  for  iusulting  the  Heity,  that  he  congratulated 
himself  that  so  many  of  the  maledictions  of  men  fell  upon 
him,  making  him  as  a  buckler  to  the  living  Grod.  In  liis 
apology,  he  attributes  the  want  of  success  in  the  holy  war 
to  the  disorders  and  crimes  of  the  Christians ;  he  compares 
the  Crusaders  to  the  Hebrews,  to  whom  Moses  had  pro- 
mised, in  the  name  of  Heaven,  a  land  of  blessedness,  and 
who  all  perished  on  their  journey,  because  they  had  done  a 
thousand  things  against  Grod. 

St.  Bernard  might  have  been  answered  that  he  ought  to 
have  foreseen  the  excesses  and  disorders  of  an  undisciplined 
multitude,  and  that  the  brigands  called  upon  to  take  up  the 
cross  were  not  the  people  of  Grod.  It  appears  to  us,  at  the 
present  time,  that  the  partisans  of  the  abbot  of  Clairvaux 
might  have  found  better  reasons  for  the  justification  of  the 
holy  war.  The  second  crusade,  although  unfortunate,  pro- 
cured several  advantages  for  Europe.  The  peace  which 
reigned  in  the  West,  caused  states  to  flomish,  and  repaired, 
in  some  sort,  the  disasters  of  a  distant  war.     It  was  held 


378  HISTOET    OF    THE    CETJSADES. 

shameful  to  cslitj  arms  in  Europe,  whilst  the  Crusaders  were 
contending  with  the  Saracens  in  the  East.  Eeligion  itself 
watched  over  Grermany,  which  had  heen  so  long  troubled  by 
c.i\il  wars.  Conrad,  a  weak  monarch  without  character,  who 
had  lost  his  army  in  Asia,  was  more  powerful  on  his  return 
from  Palestine  than  he  had  been  before  he  quitted  his  domi- 
nions. The  king  of  France  also  found  his  authority  in- 
creased, from  ha\ing  been  defended  during  his  absence  by 
the  thunders  of  the  Church  and  the  eloquence  of  St.  Ber- 
nard.* The  crusade  gave  him  a  pretext  for  imposing  taxes 
upon  his  people,  and  placed  him  at  the  head  of  a  numerous 
army,  where  he  accustomed  the  great  vassals  to  consider  him 
as  their  supreme  head. 

Stni,  if  it  is  true  that  the  divorce  of  Eleanor  of  Gruienne 
was  one  of  the  consequences  of  the  crusade,  it  must  be  ad- 
mitted that  the  evils  which  resulted  from  this  war  were  much 
greater  for  the  French  monarchy  than  any  good  it  derived 
from  it.  The  kingdom  which  then  lost  the  province  of 
Aquitaine,  which  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  EngHsh,  was 
doomed  to  become  the  'pvey  of  the  children  that  Eleanor  had 
by  her  second  marriage.  A  following  age  saw  the  descend- 
ants of  these  children  crowned  kings  of  France  and  England 
in  the  church  of  Xotre  Dame,  at  Paris,  and  the  successors 
of  Louis  TIL  found  themselves  almost  reduced  to  seek  an 
asvlum  in  foreign  lands. 

Flattery  imdertook  to  console  Louis  the  young,  for  the 
reverses  he  had  experienced  in  Asia,  and  represented  him, 
upon  several  medals,t  as  the  conqueror  of  the  East.  He 
left  Palestine  with  the  project  of  returning  thither ;  and  in 


*  St.  Bernard  wrote  to  the  Estate?  of  the  kingdom,  assembled  by  Suger, 
to  repress  the  ambition  of  a  brother  of  the  king  and  some  great  vassals. 
He  also  wrote  to  the  abbot  of  St.  Denis  :  "  Whilst  Louis,*'  said  he  in  his 
letter,  "  is  fighting  for  a  king  whose  reign  is  eternal ;  whilst  in  the  flower  of 
his  age  he  exiles  himself  from  his  kingdom  to  serve  Him  who  causes  them 
to  reign  that  serve  him,  is  it  possible  there  can  be  men  so  rash  as  to  create 
disorder  and  troubles  in  his  states,  and  to  attack  in  his  person  the  Lord 
and  his  Christ  V'—Ep.  337. 

f  The  legend  of  one  of  these  medals  is  conceived  in  these  terms  :  — 
Regi  invicto  ab  oriente  reduci, 
Frementes  laetitia  cives. 
In  another  medal  the  Meander  is  represented,  and  a  trophy  raised  upon 
its  banks,  with  this  inscription — 

Turcis  ad  ripas  Mseandri  caesis  fugatis. 


KISTORT   OF    TKE    CRUSADES.  379 

his  journey  to  Eome,  lie  promised  tlie  pope  to  place  himself 
at  the  head  of  a  new  crusade. 

And  never  did  the  Christian  colonies  stand  in  greater 
need  of  assistance.  From  the  time  the  French  quitted 
Palestine  not  a  day  passed  without  some  new  misfortune 
befalling  the  Christians  established  in  S}Tia.  A  very  short 
time  after  the  siege  of  Damascus,  Raymond  of  Poictiers  lost 
his  life  in  a  battle  against  the  Saracens,  and  his  head  was 
sent  to  the  caliph  of  Bagdad.  Josseliu,  after  having  lost 
the  city  of  Edessa,  himself  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  inhdels, 
and  died  in  misery  and  despair  in  the  prisons  of  Aleppo. 
Two  emissaries  of  the  Old  Man  of  the  jNIountain  assassi- 
nated Eaymond  11. ,  count  of  Tripoli,  under  the  walls  of  his 
capital,  which  was  plunged  into  trouble  and  desolation.  Two 
young  Mussulman  princes,  of  the  family  of  Ortok,  excited 
by  theii'  mother,  believed  that  the  moment  was  come  to  re- 
conquer Jerusalem  from  the  Christians.  An  army  which 
they  had  assembled,  came  and  pitched  its  camp  on  the 
Mount  of  Olives,  and  the  holy  city  only  owed  its  safety  to 
the  courage  of  some  knights  who  induced  the  people  to  take 
arms.  Noureddin  had  got  possession  of  all  the  Christian 
cities  of  Mesopotamia,  and  several  places  in  the  principality 
of  Antioch  had  opened  their  gates  to  him.  Arrived  on  the 
shores  of  the  sea,  which  he  had  never  before  seen,  he  bathed 
in  its  waves,  as  if  to  take  possession  of  it ;  and,  still  accom- 
panied by  victory,  he  established  the  seat  of  his  empire  at 
Damascus,  whence  he  menaced  the  city  of  Jerusalem. 

The  afflicting  news  of  these  occurrences  created  great  sor- 
row among  the  Christians  of  the  "West,  and  the  sovereign 
pontiff  exhorted  the  faithful  once  again  to  take  up  the  cross 
and  arms ;  but  neither  the  danger  of  the  Christians  beyond 
the  sea,  nor  the  exhortations  of  the  pope,  could  change  the 
opinion  which  the  French  had  formed  against  distant  wars. 
Louis  YII.  was  obliged  to  renounce  his  intention  of  retiu-n- 
ing  to  the  Holy  Land.  At  this  period  a  circumstance 
occurred  which  it  is  very  difficult  to  give  credit  to.  The 
abbot  Suger,  who  had  so  strongly  opposed  the  first  expedi- 
tion, formed  the  resolution  of  succouring  Jerusalem  ;  and 
in  an  assembly  held  at  Chartres,  exhorted  the  princes, 
barons,  and  bishops  to  enrol  themselves  under  the  banners 
of  the  holy  war.  As  he  was  only  answered  by  the  silence  of 
grief  and  astonishment,  he  formed  the  project  of  attempting 

Vol.  L— 18 


3S0  HISTORY  OF  THE   cnrsA.DES. 

an  enterprise  alone  in  wluch  two  monarclis  had  failed. 
Suger.  at  the  age  of  seventy,  resolved  to  raise  an  army,  to 
maintain  it  at  his  own  expense,  and  to  lead  it  himself  into 
Palestine.  In  accordance  with  the  devotion  of  the  time,  he 
went  to  Tours,  to  'dsit  the  tomb  of  St.  ]Martin,  in  order  to 
obtain  the  protection  of  Heaven,  and  already  ten  thousand 
pilgrims  had  taken  up  arms,  and  were  preparing  to  follow 
him  into  Asia,  when  death  came  to  prevent  the  execution  of 
his  designs. 

In  his  last  moments  Suger  invoked  the  assistance  and  the 
prayers  of  St.  Bernard,  who  sustained  his  courage,  and  ex- 
horted hioi  not  to  tiu-n  his  thouc]rhts  from  the  heavenly  Jeru- 
salem,  in  which  both  of  them  hoped  soon  to  meet ;  but  iu 
spite  of  the  exhortations  of  his  friend,  the  abbot  of  St.  Denis 
regretted,  when  d^-ing,  not  ha\'ing  been  able  to  succour  the 
holy  city.  St.  Bernard  was  not  lonor  before  he  followed 
Suger  to  the  tomb,  bearing  with  hun  a  deep  regret  at  having 
preached  an  unfortunate  war. 

France  lost  in  the  same  year  two  men  who  had  greatly 
illustrated  her,  the  one  by  talents  and  qualities  useful  to  his 
country,  the  other  by  his  eloquence  and  virtues  dear  to  aU 
Christians,  At  a  time  when  general  attention  was  given  to 
the  defence  of  the  pri^'ileges  of  the  CTiurch.  Suger  defended 
the  interests  of  royalty  and  the  people  ;  whilst  eloquent 
preachers  were  animating  the  public  zeal  for  holy  wars 
which  were  always  accompanied  by  disasters,  the  skilful 
minister  of  Louis  YII.  Avas  preparing  France,  at  a  future  day, 
to  gather  the  salutary-  fruits  of  these  great  events.  He  was 
accused  of  having  gone  too  deeply  into  the  mundane  affairs  of 
his  age  ;  but  politics  never  banished  from  his  mind  the  pre- 
cepts of  the  gospel.  According  to  the  judgment  of  his  con- 
temporaries, he  lived  at  the  court  like  a  wise  courtier,  and 
in  his  cloister  like  a  pious  monk.*  If  there  is  in  the  church 
of  France,  wrote  St.  Bernard  to  Pope  Eugenius,  any  vase  of 
price  which  would   embellish   the  palace  of  the  King  of 

*  We  have  a  life  of  Suger,  written  hy  his  secretary.  We  have  in  French 
a  Life  of  the  abbot  of  St.  Denis,  in  three  volumes.  L'Academie  Fran^aise 
in  1778  proposed  the  Eulogy  of  Suger  as  a  subject  for  a  prize ;  the  dis- 
course of  M.  Garrat,  which  was  crowned,  contains  many  very  eloquent 
passages.  We  have  before  us  another  discourse  which  was  published  in 
1779,  which  presents  an  exaggerated,  but  very  ingenious  satire  upon  the 
"''   "nd  administration  of  Suger. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  381 

kings,  it  is  doubtless  tlie  venerable  abbot  Suger.  As  abbot 
of  St.  Denis,  he,  perhaps,  enjoyed  more  wealth  than  any 
monk  ought  to  possess,  since  we  see  he  proposed  to  main- 
tain an  army,  but  he  always  employed  his  treasiu'es  in  the 
service  of  his  country  and  the  Churc^i,  and  never  had  the 
state  been  so  rich  as  under  his  administration.  His  whole 
life  was  a  long  series  of  prosperity,  and  of  actions  worthy  of 
being  remembered.  He  reformed  the  monks  of  his  order 
without  incurring  their  hatred ;  he  created  the  happiness  of 
the  people  without  proving  their  ingratitude ;  and  served 
kings,  and  yet  obtained  their  friendship.  Tortune  favoured 
all  his  undertakings,  and  that  there  should  be  nothing  un- 
prosperous  in  his  life,  and  that  he  might  be  reproached  with 
no  fault,  he  died  Avhen  he  was  about  to  conduct  an  army  to 
the  East. 

Sager  and  St.  Bernard,  united  by  religion  and  friendship, 
had  a  very  different  destiny ;  the  first,  born  in  a  low  condi- 
tion, gave  himself  to  the  disposal  of  fortune,  who  carried 
him  up  to  the  highest  dignities  ;  the  second,  born  in  a  more 
elevated  rank,  hastened  to  descend  from  it,  and  was  nothing 
but  by  his  genius.  St.  Bernard  rendered  few  services  to  the 
state,  but  he  defended  rehgion  with  indefatigable  zeal ;  and 
as  church  then  took  precedence  of  country,  he  was  greater 
than  the  abbot  Suger  in  the  eyes  of  his  contemporaries. 
"Whilst  he  lived,  the  eyes  of  all  Europe  were  fixed  upon  the 
abbot  of  Clairvaux  ;  he  was  as  a  light  placed  in  the  midst  of 
Christendom,  every  word  he  preached  had  the  holy  authority 
of  the  religion  he  taught.  He  stifled  all  schisms,  silenced 
all  impostors,  and  by  his  labours,  merited  in  his  age  the  title 
of  the  last  father  of  the  Church,  as  richly  as  the  great  Bos- 
suet  merited  it  in  his. 

St.  Bernard  may  be  reproached  with  having  too  frequently 
issued  from  his  retreat,  and  with  not  having  always  been,  as 
he  himself  expresses  it,  the  disciple  of  oaks  and  beeches. 
He  had  a  hand  in  most  of  the  political  events  of  his  time, 
and  interfered  in  all  the  afiairs  of  the  Holy  See.  Christians 
often  asked  who  was  the  head  of  the  Church ;  popes  and 
princes  sometimes  murmured  against  his  authority ;  but  it 
must  never  be  forgotten  that  he  unceasingly  preached  mode- 
ration to  kings,  humanity  to  the  people,  and  poverty  to  the 
clergy. 


BOOK    VII. 


THIED   CEUSADE. 

A.D.  1148—1188. 

"VVe  cannot  help  being  conyinced,  whilst  reading  this  his- 
tory, that  the  religion  of  Mahomet,  thoroughly  warlike  as 
it  is  in  principle,  does  not  endue  its  disciples  ^vith  that 
obstinate  bravery,  that  boundless  devotedness,  of  which  the 
Crusaders  presented  so  many  examples.  The  fanaticism  of 
the  Mussulmans  required  victory  to  keep  up  its  power  or  its 
violence.  Bred  in  a  conviction  of  blind  fatalism,  they  were 
accustomed  to  consider  successes  or  reverses  as  simple  de- 
crees of  Heaven ;  victorious,  they  were  ftdl  of  ardoui'  and 
confidence ;  conquered,  they  were  depressed,  and  without 
shame  succumbed  to  an  enemy,  whom  they  believed  to  be 
the  instrument  of  destiny.  An  ambition  for  renown  seldom 
excited  their  courage,  and  even  in  the  excesses  of  their  war- 
like fervour,  the  fear  of  chastisements  and  punishments  kept 
their  faces  towards  the  enemy  more  frequently  than  any 
generous  love  of  glory.  A  chief,  whom  they  themselves 
dreaded,  was  the  only  captain  that  could  lead  them  to  vic- 
tory ;  and  thus  despotism  became  necessary'  to  their  valom\ 

After  the  conquest  of  the  Christians,  the  dynasties  of  the 
Saracens  and  the  Turks  were  dispersed  and  almost  annihi- 
lated ;  the  Seljoucides  themselves  had  fallen  back  to  the 
very  extremities  of  Persia,  and  the  people  of  S\Tia  scarcely 
knew  the  names  of  those  princes  whose  ancestors  had 
reigned  over  Asia.  Everything,  even  despotism,  was  de- 
stroyed in  the  East.  The  ambition  of  the  emirs  took  advan- 
tage of  the  general  disorder ;  slaves  shared  the  spoils  of 
their  masters ;  provdnces  and  cities  became  so  many  prm- 
cipahties,  the  uncertain  and  transient  possession  of  Avhich 
was  a  constant  subject  of  dispute.  The  necessity  for  de- 
fending the  Mussuhnan  religion,  whilst  threatened  bv  the 
Christians,  had  alone  preserved  the  credit  of  the  rnbnhs  of 


HISTORY    OF    TKE    CRUSADES.  383 

Bagdad.  Tliev  were  still  the  chiefs  of  Islamism ;  their 
approbation  seemed  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  the 
power  of  usurpers  or  conquerors  ;  but  their  authority,  which 
was  nothing  but  a  sacred  phantom,  commanded  nothing  but 

? ravers  and  vain  ceremonies,  and  inspired  not  the  least  fear, 
n  this  state  of  degradation  their  only  employment  seemed 
to  be  to  consecrate  the  fruit  of  treachery  and  \dolence.  It 
was  not  sufficient  to  bestow  cities  and  employments  which 
they  had  no  power  to  refuse ;  all  whom  vi(?cory  and  license 
had  favoured  came  to  prostrate  themselves  before  the  vicars 
of  the  prophet ;  and  crowds  of  emirs,  viziers,  and  sultans,  to 
borrow  an  Eastern  expression,  appeared  to  rise  from  the 
dust  of  their  feet. 

The  Christians  were  not  sufficiently  aware  of  the  state  of 
Asia,  which  they  might  have  conquered ;  aud  agreed  so  ill 
among  themselves  that  they  could  never  take  advantage  of 
the  divisions  which  prevailed  among  their  enemies.  They 
seldom  had,  either  in  attack  or  defence,  a  well-sustained 
])lan,  and  their  impetuous  bravery,  directed  generally  by 
chance  or  passion,  could  only  be  compared  to  the  tempest, 
whose  fury  rages  or  abates  at  the  pleasure  of  the  winds 
which  reign  over  the  horizon.  Fortime,  which  had  offered 
them  such  a  brilliant  opportunity  for  extending  their  empire, 
became,  at  last,  adverse  to  them,  and  from  the  bosom  of  the 
chaos  in  "v^hich  the  East  was  plunged,  arose  a  formidable 
power,  which  was  destined  to  conquer  and  destroy  them. 

JN'oureddin,  son  of  Zengui,  who  had  obtained  possession 
of  Edessa  before  the  second  crusade,  had  inherited  the  con- 
quests of  his  father,  and  added  to  them  by  his  valour.  He 
was  bred  among  warriors  who  had  sworn  to  shed  their  blood 
in  the  cause  of  the  Prophet,  and  when  he  mounted  the 
throne  he  revived  the  austere  simplicity  of  the  early  caliphs. 
Koureddin,  says  an  Arabian  poet,  united  the  most  noble 
heroism  with  the  profoundest  humility.  When  he  prayed 
in  the  temple,  his  subjects  believed  they  saw  a  sanctuary  in 
another  sanctuar}^  He  encouraged  the  sciences,  cultivated 
letters,  and,  above  all,  applied  himself  to  the  maintenance 
of  justice  throughout  his  states.  His  people  admired  his 
clemency  and  moderation ;  and  the  Christians  ^ven  were 
forced  to  praise  his  courage  and  his  profane  heroism.  After 
the  example  of  his  father  Zengui,  he  made  himself  the  idol 
of  his  soldiers  by  his  liberahty ;  by  taking  charge  of  their 


384  niSTOET    OF    the    CErSADES. 

families,  he  prevented  tlieir  desire  for  the  possession  of 
lands,  and  thus  accustomed  them  to  consider  the  camp  as 
their  home  and  their  country.  In  the  midst  of  armies 
,  which  he  had  liiraself  formed,  and  ^Yhich  respected  in  him 
the  avenger  of  the  Prophet,  he  restrained  the  ambition  of 
the  emirs,  and  directed  their  efforts  and  their  zeal  towards 
one  sole  object,  the  triumph  of  Islamism,  His  victories, 
his  fortune,  his  religious  and  political  virtues  drew  upon 
him  the  attention  of  the  entire  East,  and  made  the  Mussul- 
mans believe  that  the  period  of  their  deliverance  had  arrived. 

Baldwin  III.,  who  undertook  to  stop  the  career  of  ]^ou- 
reddin,  displayed  great  valour  in  several  battles.  The  most 
important  and  the  most  fortunate  of  his  expeditions  was  the 
taking  of  i\scaloii,  in  which  the  Mussulmans  always  kept 
up  a  formidable  garrison.  This  city,  which  is  situated  in  a 
fertile  plain,  and  which  the  Mussulmans  call  tlie  Spouse  of 
Syria,  was  succoured  by  an  Eg}^tian  fleet,  and  for  a  long 
time  resisted  all  the  efforts  of  the  Christians.  Hivers  of 
blood  flowed  before  its  walls  diu-ing  several  months ;  both 
Mussulmans  and  Christians  fighting  with  fury,  and  neither 
giving  nor  receiving  quarter.  During  the  siege  the  knights 
of  the  Temple  particularly  distinguished  themselves  by  their 
valour ;  the  thirst  for  booty,  far  more  than  the  love  of  glory, 
making  them  brave  the  greatest  perils.  The  garrison  and 
the  inhabitants,  exhausted  by  fatigue  and  pinched  by  famine, 
at  length  opened  the  gates  of  the  city.  Baldwin  granted 
them  a  capitidatioii,  permitted  them  to  retire  into  Egypt 
with  their  families,  and  caused  a  Te  Deum  to  be  sung  in  the 
great  mosque,  which  he  consecrated  to  St.  Paul. 

After  this  victorv  the  king  of  Jerusalem  marched  to  en- 
counter  Xoureddin,  and  compelled  him  to  raise  the  sieges  of 
both  Paneas  and  Sidon.  Baldwin  was  en2:aQ:ed  in  assistinix 
the  principality  of  Antioch,  always  disturbed  by  fiictions, 
always  threatened  by  the  Mussulmans,  when  he  was  poisoned 
by  a  Syrian  physician.  As  soon  as  he  became  sensible  of 
his  danger,  he  set  out  for  Jerusalem,  and  died  in  the  city  of 
Berouth.  His  remains  were  transported  to  the  holy  city, 
the  clergy  coming  out  to  meet  the  funeral  train.  The 
people  descended  from  the  mountains  to  join  the  procession, 
and  through  the  country,  and  in  the  cities  nothing  was  heard 
but  lamentations.     Xoureddin  himself,  if  we  are  to  believe 


HISTORY    OF   THE    CRUSADES.  385 

a  Christian  historian,*  was  affected  by  the  sorrow  of  the 
Franks.  Some  of  his  emirs  advising  him  to  take  advantage 
of  this  melancholy  occasion  to  enter  Palestine,  "  Grod  forbid," 
replied  he,  "  that  I  should  disturb  the  proper  grief  of  a 
people  who  are  weeping  for  the  loss  of  so  good  a  king,  or 
lix  upon  such  an  opportunity  to  attack  a  kingdom  which  I 
have  no  reason  to  fear."  Hemarkable  vrords,  which  at  once 
denote  two  great  men,  and  which  further  shovv'  what  a 
serious  loss  the  Christians  had  sustained. 

As  soon  as  the  funeral  ceremonies  of  Baldwin  III.  were 
over,  warm  debates  arose  upon  the  choice  of  a  successor. 
The  greater  part  of  the  barons  and  knights  attached  to  the 
memory  of  Baldwin  proposed  to  call  to  the  throne  his 
brother  Amaury,  count  of  Jaft'a  and  Ascalon.  This  party 
was  the  most  reasonable  and  the  most  conformable  to  the 
laws  and  interests  of  the  kiugdom ;  but  the  brother  of 
Bakb\vin,  by  tlie  haughtiness  of  his  deportment,  had  made 
himself  many  enemies  among  the  people,  the  clergy,  and 
the  army,  lie  was  reproached  with  an  ambition  and  an 
avarice  fatal  to  the  interests  of  the  Christians ;  and  he  was 
accused  of  not  being  restrained  by  honour,  justice,  or  even 
the  precepts  of  religion,t  in  the  execution  of  his  projects. 
His  partisans  extolled  his  active  and  enterprisiug  character, 
his  bravery  so  often  proved,  and  his  great  skill  in  war. 
Among  the  nobles  of  the  kingdom  who  opposed  his  succes- 
sion, and  attributed  to  him  ambitious  views  much  to  be 
dreaded,  were  several  who  themselves  nourished  aspiring 
projects,  and  allowed  themselves  to  be  seduced  by  the  hope 
of  ascending  the  throne.  The  conflicting  parties  were  on 
the  point  of  taking  up  arms  to  sustain  their  pretensions 
or  their  hopes,  when  the  grand  master  of  the  Hospi- 
tallers exhorted  the  barons  and  knights  to  preserve  the 
peace  and  the  laws  of  the  kiugdom  by  crowning  young 
Amaury.  "  The  cro^\'n,"  said  he  to  them,  "  which  you 
refuse  to  place  upon  the  head  of  a  Christian  prince  will  soon 
be  upon  that  of  JVoureddin  or  of  the  caliph  of  Egypt.  It 
this  misfortune  should  happen,  you  will  become  the  slaves 

*  Robert  of  the  Mount. 
^  t  William  of  Tyre  says  that  he  was  once  much  scandalized  by  a  ques- 
tion Amaury  put  to  him  concerning  the  next  woild. 


380  HISTORY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

of  the  infidek,  and  the  world  will  accuse  you  of  having 
opened  the  gates  of  the  holy  city  to  the  Saracens,  as  the 
traitor  Judas  gave  up  the  Saviour  of  the  world  into  the 
hands  of  his  enemies."  This  speech,  and  the  sight  of  the 
troops  which  Amaurv  had  already  collected  to  defend  his 
rio-hts,  disarmed  the  factions  which  disturbed  the  kingdom. 
The  brother  of  Baldwin  was  crowned  in  the  Holy  Sepulchre, 
and  received  the  oaths  of  allegiance  of  those  even  who  had 
openly  declared  themselves  opposed  to  his  claims. 

Assoon  as  Amaury  had  ascended  the  throne,  he  directed 
all  his  energies  towards  Eg\'pt,  now  weakened  by  the  vic- 
tories of  the  Christians.  The  caliph  of  Cairo  having  refused 
to  pay  the  tribute  due  to  the  conquerors  of  Ascalon,  the 
new  king  of  Jerusalem  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  his 
army,  traversed  the  desert,  carried  the  terror  of  his  arms  to 
the  banks  of  the  Xile,  and  only  returned  to  his  kingdom 
when  he  had  forced  the  Eg^-ptians  to  puix-hase  peace.  The 
state  in  which  Egypt  was  then  placed  was  likely  soon  to 
recall  the  Christian's  thither ;  and  happy  would  it  have  been 
for  them  if  they  had  known  how  to  profit  by  their  advan- 
tages ;  and  if  their  fruitless  attempts  had  not  served  to 
favoiu*  the  progress  of  a  rival  power. 

Eg^-pt  was  at  that  time  the  theatre  of  a  civil  war,  occa- 
sioned by  the  ambition  of  two  leaders  who  disputed  the 
empire  of  it.  Eor  a  length  of  time  the  caliphs  of  Cairo,  like 
those  of  Bagdad,  shut  up  in  their  seraglio,  had  borne  no 
resemblance  to  the  warrior  from  whom  they  derived  their 
origin,  who  had  said,  whilst  pointing  to  his  soldiers  and  his 
sword,  "  These  are  my  family  and  my  race.'^  Eners'ated  by 
effeminacy  and  pleasures,  they  had  abandoned  the  govern- 
ment to  their  slaves,  who  adored  them  on  their  knees,  and 
imposed  laws  upon  them.  They  no  longer  exercised  any 
real  authority  but  in  the  mosques,  and  only  preserved  the 
disgraceful  privilege  of  confirming  the  usurped  power  of  the 
viziers,  who  corrupted  the  armies,  disturbed  the  provinces, 
and  in  the  field  of  battle  quarrelled  with  each  other  for  the 
right  of  reigning  over  both  people  and  prince. 

Each  of  the  viziers,  to  secm-e  the  triumph  of  his  cause, 
called  in  by  turns  the  arms  of  the  neighboiu-ing  powers. 
On  the  arrival  of  these  dangerous  auxiliaries,  all  was  in  con- 
fusion on  the  banks  of  the  Xile.     Blood  flowed  in  all  the 


HISTOEY    or    THE    CRUSADES.  387 

provinces,  sometimes  slied  by  the  executioners,  sometimes  by 
the  soldiers  ;  Egypt  Avas  at  once  desolated  by  its  enemies,  its 
allies,  and  its  inhabitants. 

Chaver,  ^vho,  amidst  these  revolutions,  had  raised  himself 
from  the  humble  condition  of  a  slave  to  the  post  of  vizier, 
had  been  conquered  and  displaced  by  Dargan,  one  of  the 
principal  officers  of  the  Egyptian  mihtia.  Obliged  to  fly 
and  abandon  Egypt,  where  his  rival  reigned,  he  went  to  seek 
an  asylum  at  Damascus,  imploring  the  assistance  of  Noured- 
din,  and  promisiug  a  considerable  tribute  if  that  prince 
would  furnish  him  with  troops  to  protect  his  return  into 
Egypt.  The  sultan  of  Damascus  yielded  to  the  prayers  of 
Chaver.  To  command  the  army  which  he  resolved  to  send 
into  Eg;v'pt,  he  selected  Chirkou,  the  most  skilful  of  his 
emirs,  who  having  always  shown  himself  cruel  and  implaca- 
ble in  his  military  expeditions,  was  likely  to  be  without  pity 
for  the  vanquished,  and  to  take  all  advantage  of  the  miseries 
of  a  civil  war,  for  the  benefit  of  his  master.  The  vizier 
Dargan  was  not  long  in  being  warned  of  the  projects  of 
Chaver  and  the  preparations  of  Noureddin.  To  resist  the 
storm  about  to  burst  upon  him,  he  implored  the  aid  of  the 
Christians  of  Palestine,  and  promised  to  give  up  his  trea- 
sures to  them  if  they  succeeded  in  preserving  his  power. 

AVliilst  the  king  of  Jerusalem,  seduced  by  this  promise, 
was  collecting  an  army,  Chaver,  accompanied  by  the  troops 
of  jN'oureddin,  crossed  the  desert,  and  approached  the  banks 
of  the  Nile.  Dargan,  who  came  out  to  meet  him  with  the 
Egyptian  army,  was  conquered  by  the  Syrians,  and  lost  his 
life  in  the  battle.  The  city  of  Cairo  soon  opened  its  gates 
to  the  conqueror.     Chaver,*  whom  the  victory  had  delivered 

*  Among  the  Arabian  authors  who  give  the  greatest  number  of  details 
of  the  conquest  of  Egypt,  the  continuator  of  Tabari  deserves  remark  ; 
Chehabeddin,  son  of  Mohammed,  the  author  of  the  Roudatins  (the  two 
gardens  or  lives  of  Noureddin  and  Salaheddin),  is  also  very  explicit  upon 
this  war  between  the  Christians  and  the  Mussulmans.  Moudjireddin,  in 
his  History  of  Jerusalem,  says  a  few  words  of  the  conquest  of  Egypt  by 
Chirkou.  Aboulmahason  speaks  also  of  the  conquest  of  Egypt  by  the 
Turks.  When  speaking  of  the  influence  the  Franks  exercised  at  Cairo, 
he  says  they  had  a  particular  quarter  of  the  city,  and  a  market  which 
Chaver  had  had  built  for  them.  Kemaleddin,  in  his  History  of  Aleppo, 
relates  these  events  with  his  usual  clearness.  This  author  agrees  with 
Tabari.     Ibu-elatir,  in  his  History  of  the  Attabeks,  says  but  a  very  few 

18* 


388  UlSTOST   OF   THE    CRUSADES. 

from  "his  enemy,  shed  torrents  of  blood  in  the  capital  to  in- 
sure his  triumph,  received  amid  the  general  consternation 
the  congratulations  of  the  caliph,  and  resumed  the  reins  of 
government. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  di\-isions  arose  between 
the  general  of  Noureddin,  who  daily  placed  a  more  excessive 
price  on  his  services,  and  the  vizier,  whom  Chirkou  accused 
of  perfidv  and  ingratitude.  Chaver  desired  in  vain  to  send 
the  Mussulmans  back  into  Syria ;  they  replied  to  him  only 
bv  threats,  and  he  was  on  the  point  of  being  besieged  in 
Cairo  by  his  own  deliverers.  All  the  Egyptians,  particularly 
the  people  of  the  capital,  were  seized  with  trouble  and  con- 
sternation. 

In  the  midst  of  so  pressing  a  danger,  the  vizier  Chaver 
placed  his  only  hope  in  the  Christian  warriors,  whose  ap- 
proach he  had  not  long  since  so  much  dreaded.  He  made 
the  king  of  Jerusalem  the  same  promises  that  he  had  offered 
to  Noureddiu ;  and  Amaury,  who  only  wanted  to  enter 
Egvpt,  whatever  might  be  the  party  that  prevailed  there,  set 
out  upon  his  march  to  defend  Chaver  with  the  very  same 
army  he  had  collected  to  fight  against  him.  "When  arrived 
on  the  banks  of  the  Xile,  he  united  his  troops  ^ith  those  of 
the  \-izier,  and  thev  sat  down  before  the  city  of  Bilbeis,  into 
which  Chirkou  had  retired.  Xoureddin's  general  resisted 
during  three  months  all  the  attacks  of  the  Christians  and 
Egvptians  ;  and  when  the  king  of  Jerusalem  proposed  peace 
to  him,  he  demanded  payment  of  the  expenses  of  the  war. 
After  some  negotiations,  in  which  he  displayed  great  haugh- 
tiness, he  marched  out  of  Bilbeis  still  threatening  the  Chris- 
tians, and  led  back  his  army  to  Damascus,  loaded  with  the 
spoils  of  his  enemies. 

Chirkou  had  beheld  the  riches  of  Egypt,  and  become 
acquainted  with  the  weakness  of  its  government ;  the  first 

words  about  the  conquest  of  Egypt ;  he  agrees  with  the  continuator  of 
Tabari  and  Keraaleddin.  Dzeraaleddin,  in  his  History  of  Egypt,  is  also 
very  brief  on  this  important  event.  Macrizi,  in  his  Kitab-alsoloueJc 
Timaresch  Doiial  Almoulouek  (Institution  on  the  Knowledge  of  the 
Dynasties  of  Kings),  only  speaks  with  brevity  of  these  events.  Amongst 
the  Latin  authors  who  have  spoken  of  the  conquest  of  Egypt,  we  princi- 
pally quote  William  of  Tyre,  and  the  Latin  history  of  the  latter  years  of 
the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem,  which  is  met  with  in  the  Collection  of  Bongars. 


IITSTORT    OF   THE    CRUSADES.  389 

advice  he  offered  to  iN  oureddiu,  after  his  arrival,  therefore, 
v,as  to  endeavour  to  unite  this  rich  country  to  his  own 
empire.  The  sultan  of  Syria  sent  ambassadors  to  the  caliph 
of  Bagdad,  not  to  ask  aid  of  him,  but  to  give  a  religious 
colour  to  his  enterprise.  During  several  centuries,  the 
caliphs  of  Bagdad  and  Cairo  had  been  divided  by  an  impla- 
cable hatred ;  each  of  them  boasting  of  being  the  vicar  of  the 
Prophet,  and  considering  his  rival  as  the  enemy  of  God.  In 
the  mosques  of  Bagdad,  they  cursed  the  caliphs  of  Egypt 
and  their  sectarians  ;  in  those  of  Cairo,  they  devoted  to  the 
infernal  powers,  the  Abassides  and  their  partisans. 

The  caliph  of  Bagdad  did  not  hesitate  to  comply  with  the 
wishes  of  Koureddin.  AVhilst  the  sultan  of  Syria  was  solely 
occupied  by  his  endeavours  to  extend  his  empire,  the  ^dcar 
of  the  Prophet  was  only  ambitious  to  preside  alone  over  the 
Mussulman  religion.  He  commanded  the  Imans  to  preach 
a  war  against  the  Fatimites,  and  promised  the  delights  of 
Paradise  to  all  who  shoidd  take  up  arms  in  the  holy  expedi- 
tion. At  the  call  of  the  caliph,  a  great  number  of  faithful 
Mussulmans  flocked  to  the  standard  of  Xoureddin,  and 
Chirkou,  by  the  order  of  the  sultan,  prepared  to  return  into 
Egypt,  at  the  head  of  a  powerful  army. 

The  fame  of  these  preparations  spread  throughout  the 
East,  particularly  in  Egypt,  where  it  created  the  most  seri- 
ous alarms.  Amauiy,  who  had  returned  to  his  own  states, 
received  ambassadors  from  Chaver,  soliciting  his  help  and 
aUiance  against  the  enterprise  of  Noureddin.  The  states  of 
the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem  were  assembled  at  Kaplouse,  and 
the  king  there  exposed  to  them  the  advantages  of  another 
expedition  into  Egypt.  An  impost  was  levied  to  carry  on  a 
war  from  w'hich  the  greatest  hopes  were  entertained,  and  the 
Christian  armv  soon  set  out  from  Graza  to  fight  with  the 
troops  of  Xoureddin  on  the  banks  of  the  Nile. 

In  the  mean  time  Chu'kou  was  crossinix  the  desert,  where 
he  encountered  the  greatest  dangers.  A  \dolent  tempest 
surprised  him  on  his  march ;  all  at  once  the  heavens  were 
darkened,  and  the  earth,  which  was  strewed  with  the  pros- 
trate Syrians,  became  like  a  stormy  sea.  Immense  waves  of 
sand  were  lifted  by  the  winds,  and  rising  into  whirlwinds  or 
forming  moving  moimtains,  scattered,  bore  away,  or  swal- 
lowed up  men  and  horses.     In  this  tempest  the  Syrian 


ByO  nisTOEY  or  the  CErsADES. 

army  abandoned  its  baggage  and  lost  its  provisions  and 
arms,  and  when  Chirkou  arrived  on  tlie  banks  of  the  Xile, 
lie  had  no  means  of  defence  left  except  the  remembrance  of 
his  former  victories.  He  took  great  care  to  conceal  the  losses 
he  had  experienced,  and  the  wTeck  of  an  army  dispersed  bv 
a  fearful  tempest  proved  sufficient  to  throw  all  the  cities  of 
Egypt  into  consternation. 

The  vizier  Chaver,  frightened  at  the  approach  of  the 
Syrians,  sent  ambassadors  to  the  Christians,  to  promise  them 
immense  riches,  and  press  them  to  hasten  their  march.  On 
his  side,  the  king  of  Jerusalem  deputed  to  the  caliph  of 
Egypt,  Hugh  of  Csesarea,  and  Foulcher,  a  knight  of  the 
Temple,  to  obtain  the  ratification  of  the  treaty  of  alliance 
with  the  Egyptians.  Amam-y's  deputies  were  introduced 
into  a  palace  in  which  no  Christian  had  ever  before  been 
admitted.  After  haA-ing  traversed  several  corridors  filled 
with  Moorish  guards,  and  a  vast  number  of  apartments  and 
courts  in  which  glittered  all  the  splendour  of  the  East,  they 
arrived  in  a  hall,  or  rather  a  sanctuary,  where  the  caliph 
awaited  them,  seated  on  a  throne  shining  with  gold  and  pre- 
cious stones.  Chaver,  who  conducted  them,  prostrated  him- 
self at  the  feet  of  his  master,  and  supplicated  him  to  accept 
the  treaty  of  alliance  with  the  kino^  of  Jerusalem.  The 
prayer  of  the  vizier  was  an  imperious  order,  and  the  com- 
mander of  the  faitliful,  always  docile  to  the  will  of  the  lowest 
of  his  slaves,  made  a  sign  of  approbation,  and  stretched  his 
uncovered  hand  out  to  the  Christian  deputies  in  presence  of 
the  officers  of  his  court,  whom  so  strange  a  spectacle  filled 
with  grief  and  surprise. 

The  army  of  the  Franks  was  close  to  Cairo  ;  but  as  the 
policy  of  Amaiuy  was  to  lengthen  the  war,  in  order  to  pro- 
long his  stay  in  Egypt, he  neglected  opportunities  of  attacking 
the  Syrians  with  advantagfe,  and  graye  them  time  to  recruit 
their  strength.  After  having:  left  them  a  long  time  in  repose, 
he  gave  them  battle  in  the  isle  of  Maalle,  and  forced  their 
intrenchments,  but  did  not  follow  up  his  -victory.  Chii'kou, 
in  his  retreat, endeavoured  to  reanimate  the  depressed  courage 
of  the  soldiers  of  Xoui-eddin,  the  latter  not  haviag  yet  for- 
gotten the  evils  they  had  encountered  in  the  passage  over  the 
desert.  This  calamity,  still  recent,  together  with  the  first 
victory  of  the  Christians,  destroyed  the  confidence  thev  had 


HISTORY   or    TUE    CliUSADES.  391 

in  their  arms  and  tlie  protection  of  tlie  Prophet.  One  of  the 
lieutenants  of  Chirkou,  upon  \Yitnessing  their  gloomy  rage, 
cried  out  in  the  midst  of  the  Mussulman  army  :  "  Toa  who 
fear  death  or  slavery,  return  into  Syria;  go  and  tell  jSToureddin 
that  to  repay  him  for  the  benefits  with  which  he  has  loaded 
you,  you  abandon  Egypt  to  the  infidels,  in  order  to  shut 
yourselves  up  in  your  seraglios  with  women  and  children," 

These  words  reanimated  the  zeal  and  fanaticism  of  the 
Syrian  warriors.  The  Franks  and  the  Egyptians  who  pur- 
sued the  army  of  Chirkou,  were  conquered  in  a  battle,  and 
forced  to  abandon  in  disorder  the  hills  of  Baben,*  where 
they  had  pitched  their  tents.  The  general  of  Noureddin 
took  all  possible  advantage  of  his  victory ;  he  passed  as  a 
conqueror  along  the  fertile  banks  of  the  Nile ;  penetrated, 
without  encountering  an  obstacle,  into  lower  Egypt ;  placed  a 
garrison  in  Alexandria ;  and  returned  to  lay  siege  to  the  city 
of  Koutz,  the  capital  of  the  Thebais.  The  ability  with 
Avhich  Chirkou  had  disciplined  his  army,  and  planned  the 
last  battle  he  had  fought  with  his  enemies ;  his  marches  and 
his  counter-marches  in  the  plains  and  valleys  of  Egypt,  from 
the  tropic  to  the  sea,  announced  the  progress  of  the  Mus- 
sulmans in  military  tactics,  and  w^arned  the  Christians  be- 
forehand of  the  enemy  that  was  destined  to  put  an  end  to 
their  victories  and  conquests. 

The  Turks  defended  themselves  during  several  months  in 
Alexandria,  against  the  seditions  of  the  inhabitants  and  the 
numerous  assaults  of  the  Christians.  They  at  length  ob- 
tained an  honourable  capitulation,  and  as  tlieir  army  Avas 
becoming  weaker  every  day  by  famine  and  fatigue,  they  re- 
tired a  second  time  to  Damascus,  after  exacting  very  dear 
payment  for  the  transient  tranquillity  in  which  they  left  the 
people  of  Egypt. 

A^fter  the  retreat  of  the  Syrians,  the  vizier  Chaver  has- 
tened to  send  back  the  Christians,  whose  presence  made  him 
very  uneasy.  Tie  engaged  to  pay  the  king  of  Jerusalem  an 
annual  tribute  of  a  hundred  thousand  crowns  in  gold,  and 
consented  to  receive  a  garrison  in  Cairo.  He  loaded  the 
barons  and  knights  with  rich  presents,  and  the  soldiers  even 

*  Near  the  castle  of  Toura,  two  leagvxes  from  Cairo,  opposite  ancient 
Memphis. 


392  UISTOUT    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

bad  a  sliare  in  liis  bounties,  proportionate  to  the  fear  tbe 
Franks  inspired  bim  with.  The  Christian  warriors  returned 
to  Jerusalem,  bearing  with  them  riches  which  dazzled  both 
people  and  nobles,  and  inspii^ed  them  witli  other  thoughts 
than  that  of  defending  the  heritage  of  Chi'ist. 

As  Amaury  returned  to  his  capital,  the  sight  of  his  moun- 
tainous and  'sterile  provinces,  the  poverty  of  his  subjects, 
and  the  narrow  limits  of  his  kingdom,  made  him  deeply  re- 
gret having  missed  the  opportunity  of  conquering  a  great 
empire.     Soon  after  his  return  he  married  a  niece  of  the 
emperor  flannel ;  but  whilst  the  people  and  his  court  gave 
themselves  up  to  joy,  and  put  up  vows  for  the  prosperity  of 
his  familv  and  his  kingdom,  one  single  thought  occupied  him 
night  and  day,  and  haunted  him  even  amongst  the  most  sump- 
tuous and  brilliant  festi\ities.     The  riches  of  the  caliph  of 
Cairo,  the  populousness  and  fertility  of  Egypt,  its  numerous 
fleets,  and  the  commodiousness  of  its  ports,  presented  them- 
selves constantly  to  the  mind  of  Amaury.  His  first  endeavour 
was  to  make  the  marriage  he  had  just  contracted  subservient 
to  his  projects,  and  he  sent  ambassadors  to  Constantinople, 
with  instructions  to  induce   Manuel  to  assist  him  in  the 
conquest  of  Egypt.     Manuel  approved  of  the  plans  of  the 
king  of  Jerusalem,  and  promised  to  send  him  fleets  and 
share  with  him  the  glory  and  perils  of  a  conquest  which 
must  so  deeply  interest  the  Christian  world.     Then  Amaury 
hesitated  no  longer  to  declare  his  designs,  and  called  toge- 
ther the  barons  and  principal  people  of  his  kingdom.     In 
this  assembly,  in  which  it  was  proposed  to  invade  Egypt,  the 
wisest,  among  whom  was  the  grand  master  of  the  Templars, 
declared   loudly  and   decidedly  that   the   undertaking  was 
unjust.     '•  The  Christians,"  said  they,  ''ought  not  to  set  the 
Mussuhnans  the  example  of  violating  treaties.     It  perhaps 
would  not  be  a  difficult  matter  to  obtain  possession  of  Egypt, 
but  it  would  not  be  so  easy  to  keep  it  as  to  conquer  it. 
Xoureddin  was  the  most  formidable  enemy  of  the  Chris- 
tians :  it  was  asrainst  him  they  should  bring  all  the  imited 
forces  of  the  kingdom  to  bear.     Egypt  must  belong  to  the 
power  that  should  remain  ruler  of  Svria,  and  it  was  not  pru- 
dent or  wise  to  endeavour  to  anticipate  the  favoiu-s  of  for- 
tune, and  send  armies  into  a  country  of  which  they  should 
only  open  the  gates  to  the  son  of  Zengui,  as  they  had  done 


HISTORY    OF   THE    CEUSADES.  893 

in  tlie  instance  of  Damascus.  They  would  sacrifice  Christian 
cities,  Jerusalem  itself,  to  the  hope  of  conquering  a  kingdom. 
Noureddin  had  alread}^  taken  ad\^antage  of  the  king  of  Jeru- 
salem's being  engaged  on  the  banks  of  the  Mle,  to  get  pos- 
session of  several  places  Avhich  belonged  to  the  Christians. 
Bohemond  prince  of  Antioch,  ani  Raymond  count  of  Tripoli, 
had  been  made  prisoners  of  war,  and  groaned  in  the  chains  of 
the  Mussulmans,  as  victims  of  an  ambition  which  had  seduced 
the  king  of  Jerusalem  far  from  his  Idngdom  and  the  Christian 
colonies  of  which  he  ought  to  be  the  support  and  defender." 

The  knights  and  barons  who  expressed  themselves  thus, 
added  that  the  sight  alone  of  Egypt  would  not  fail  to  cor- 
rupt the  Christian  warriors,  and  enervate  the  courage  and 
jsubdue  the  patriotism  of  the  inhabitants  and  defenders  of 
Palestine.  These  opinions,  however  prudent  and  just,  had 
no  effect  upon  the  king  of  Jerusalem  and  the  partisans  of 
the  war,  among  whom  was  conspicuous  the  grand  master  of 
the  Hospitallers,  who  had  exhausted  the  riches  of  his  order 
by  extravagant  expenses,  and  had  raised  troops  for  whose 
pay  he  had  assigned  the  treasures  of  Egypt.  The  greater 
part  of  the  lords  and  knights,  to  whom  fortune  seemed  to 
be  waiting  on  the  banks  of  the  Nile  in  order  to  bestow  upon 
them  her  favours,  suffered  themselves  to  be  easily  persuaded 
to  the  war,  and  found  it  very  convenient  to  consider  as  an 
enemy  the  sovereign  of  a  country  which  held  out  so  rich  a 
booty  to  them. 

AVhilst  these  preparations  for  the  conquest  of  Egypt  were 
in  agitation  in  Jerusalem,  the  same  projects  occupied  the  emirs 
and  the  council  of  jSToureddin.  Onhis  return  from  the  banks  of 
the  Nile,  Chirkou  had  announced  to  the  sultan  of  Damascus, 
"  that  the  government  of  Cairo  wanted  both  officers  and  sol- 
diers ;  and  that  revolutions,  the  cupidity  of  the  Pranks,  and 
the  presence  of  the  Syrians,  had  weakened  and  ruined  the 
empire  of  the  Patimites.  The  Egyptian  people,"  added  he, 
"  accustomed  to  change  masters,  Mere  neither  attached  to  the 
caliph, whom  they  did  not  know,  nor  to  the  vizier,  who  brought 
upon  them  all  sorts  of  calamities.  They  were  ready  to  sub- 
mit to  the  domination  of  a  prince  who  should  be  powerful 
enough  to  protect  them  against  both  their  enemies  and  the 
scourge  of  ci\Tl  wars.  The  Christians  were  likewise  aware 
how  feeble  this  empire  was,  and  it  was  to  be  dreaded  that 


39^  niSTOHY   OF   THE    CHrSADES. 

they  would  "be  the  first.  Sucli  a  f\ivoiira"ble  opportunity 
should  not  be  neglected,  or  a  conquest  despised  "which  for- 
tune appeared  to  oifer  to  the  first  power  that  should  make 
its  appearance  in  Egypt." 

Thus  the  kins:  of  Jerusalem  and  the  sultan  of  Damascus 
entertained  the  same  \'iews,  and  both  made  preparations  for 
the  same  conquest.  In  the  chiu'ches  of  the  Christians,  as  in 
the  mosques  of  the  Mussulmans,  prayers  were  put  up  for  the 
success  of  a  war  about  to  be  carried  on  on  the  banks  of  the 
^ile.  As  each  of  the  two  parties  sought  to  give  the  best 
colour  to  their  projects  and  proceedings,  at  Damascus  it  was 
asserted  that  the  caliph  of  Esypt  had  made  an  impious 
alliance  with  the  disciples  of  Christ,  whilst  at  Jerusalem  it 
was  asserted  that  the  ^-izier  Chaver,  in  defiance  of  treaties, 
kept  up  a  perfidious  correspondence  with  Xom-eddin. 

The  Chi^istians  were  the  first  to  violate  theii'  treaties. 
Amaury  set  out  at  the  head  of  a  numerous  army,  and  ap- 
peared in  the  character  of  an  enemy  before  Belbeis,  which 
place  he  had  promised  to  the  knights  of  St.  John,  as  a  re- 
ward for  the  ardour  and  zeal  they  had  shown  for  his  expedi- 
tion. This  city,  situated  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Nile, 
was  besieged,  taken  by  assault,  and  after  being  pillaged, 
consigned  to  the  flames. 

The  misfortunes  of  Belbeis  spread  consternation  through- 
out Egypt,  and  the  people,  imtated  at  the  account  of  the 
cruelties  practised  by  the  Pranks,  took  up  arms  and  drove 
the  Christian  garrison  out  of  Cairo.  Chaver  assembled 
troops  in  the  pro^^.nces,  fortified  the  capital,  and  set  fire  to 
the  ancient  city  of  Eostat,  which  burnt  for  more  than  six 
weeks.  The  caliph  of  Cairo  again  implored  the  assistance  of 
Xoureddin,  and  to  excite  his  pity  and  prove  his  distress,  he 
sent  him  in  a  letter  the  hair  of  the  women  of  his  seraglio. 
The  sultan  of  Damascus  attended  with  joy  to  the  prayers  of 
the  caliph  of  Egypt,  and  as  an  army  was  ready  to  march,  he 
gave  orders  to  Chirkou  to  cross  the  aesert  and  hasten  to  the 
banks  of  the  Xile. 

^Vhilst  the  Syrians  were  coming  to  the  aid  of  Egypt, 
thi'eatened  bv  the  Christians.  Chaver  emploved  even'  means 
in  his  power  to  stop  the  king  of  Jerusalem  in  his  march,  and 
suspend  in  his  hands  the  thunderbolt  ready  to  fall  upoo 


IIISTOET   OF    THE    CRUSADES.  395 

Egypt.  Ambassadors  were  sent  to  implore  the  pity  of 
Amaury,  and  to  give  some  \Yeight  to  their  prayers,  offered 
him  two  millions  of  crowns  of  gold.  The  offer  of  so  enor- 
mous a  sum,  which  Egypt,  for  so  long  a  time  devastated, 
could  not  possibly  have  furnished,  seduced  the  king  of  the 
Christians,  who  was  as  much  inlluenced  by  a  love  of  gold  as 
an  ambition  for  conquests.  He  allowed  himself  to  be  thus 
deceived  by  the  Mussulmans,  to  whom  he  himself  had  been 
wanting  in  faith  ;  and  whilst  he  was  waiting  for  the  treasures 
they  had  promised  him,  the  Egyptians  restored  the  fortifi- 
cations of  their  cities,  and  assembled  everywhere  in  arms. 
The  Christians  looked  in  vain  for  the  fleets  promised  by 
Manuel,  and  soon,  instead  of  welcoming  auxiliaries,  they 
learnt  that  Chirkou  had  arrived  for  the  third  time  in  Egypt 
at  the  head  of  a  fonnidable  army.  Then  Amaury  opened 
his  eyes,  and  set  about  repairing  his  error.  He  flew  to 
meet  the  Syrians,  and  ofler  them  battle ;  but  their  general 
avoided  the  encounter,  and  united  his  forces  Avith  those  of 
the  Egyptians.  Tlie  evil  was  irreparable  ;  the  king  of  Jeru- 
salem could  not  resist  the  two  united  armies,  and  ashamed 
of  being  deceived  by  those  whom  he  had  himself  sought  to 
deceive,  he  retui'ned  to  his  kingdom,  and  was  pursued  to 
the  verge  of  the  desert  by  the  troops  of  JN^oureddiu. 

Before  the  enterprise,  hopes  of  success  had  dazzled  the 
minds  of  all;  but  when  it  had  failed,  they,  as  generally, 
perceived  the  injustice  of  it.  The  Christians  all  became 
aware  of  the  evils  with  which  Jerusalem  was  menaced,  and 
reproached  Amaury  with  not  being  able  to  preserve  peace, 
or  knowing  how  to  make  war.  In  the  mean  time  Noured- 
din's  general  entered  the  capital  of  Egypt  in  triumph. 

Chirkou  hoisted  his  standard  on  the  towers  of  Cairo,  and 
Egypt,  which  thought  it  had  received  a  liberator  into  its 
bosom,  soon  found  that  he  was  a  master.  Chaver  paid  with 
his  life  the  evils  he  had  inflicted  upon  his  country ;  he  was 
killed  in  the  camp  of  Chirkou,  and  his  authority  became 
the  reward  of  the  conqueror.  The  caliph,  who,  in  order  to 
save  himself,  had  demanded  the  head  of  his  first  minister, 
appointed  the  general  of  Noureddin  as  his  successor,  styling 
him  in  his  letters,  the  victorious  i^ince.  It  was  thus  that 
the  degraded  monarch  of  Egypt  jested  with  his  own  favours 


890  HISTOET    OF   THE    CEUSADES. 

by  flattering  a  man  he  did  not  know,  and  for  whose  death  he 
was,  most  likely,  desirous ;  an  image  of  blind  fortune,  who 
scatters  at  hazard  good  and  evil,  and  views  her  favourites 
and  her  m-tims  with  equal  indiiference. 

Some  time  after,  the  caliph  of  Cairo,  always  invisible  in 
his  palace,  was  deposed  by  the  orders  of  Xoureddin,  and 
died  peaceably  without  kno^^ing  that  he  had  lost  his  empire. 
His  treasiu-es  served  to  appease  the  murmurs  of  the  people 
and  the  soldiery ;  the  black  flag  of  the  Abassides  displaced 
the  green  standard  of  the  children  of  Ali,  and  the  name  of 
the  caliph  of  Bagdad  was  heard  of  only  in  the  mosques.  The 
dvnasty  of  the  Fatimites,  which  reigned  more  than  two 
centuries,  and  for  which  so  much  blood  had  been  shed,  was 
extiugfuished  in  a  sinorle  dav,  and  found  not  even  one  de- 
fender.  From  that  time  the  Mussulmans  had  onl_y  one 
religion  and  one  cause  to  defend ;  Egypt  and  Syria  obeyed 
the  same  chief,  and  the  richest  provinces  of  the  East  were 
imited  under  the  powerful  hand  of  jS'oureddin. 

The  sultan  of  Aleppo  and  Damascus  had  spread,  the  terror 
of  his  arms  from  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates  and  the  IHgris 
to  the  soiu'ces  of  the  Xile ;  he  had  everywhere  governors 
and  armies  ;  and  posts  of  pigeons,  which  he  had  established, 
carried  at  the  same  time  his  orders  into  the  principal  cities 
of  Egypt,  Syria,  and  Mesopotamia.  The  justice  of  his  laws 
and  his  victories  over  the  Christians  had  created  for  him 
such  a  reputation  for  sanctitj^  among  the  Mussulmans,  that 
a  shower  of  rain  which  fell  in  the  midst  of  a  drought,  was 
considered  by  them  as  a  miracle  granted  to  his  prayers. 
Dui^ing  the  war  of  Egypt  he  had  taken  several  fortresses 
belono-ins:  to  the  Franks :  and  the  destruction  of  the  Chris- 
tian  colonies  was  still  the  aim  of  all  his  labours  and  all  his 
exploits.  Full  of  confidence  in  the  protection  of  Mahomet, 
the  devout  Xoureddin  employed  his  leisure  in  constructing, 
with  his  own  hands,  a  pulpit,  which  he  meant  himself  to 
place  in  the  principal  mosque  of  Jerusalem. 

The  sultan  of  Damascus  was  preparing  to  commence  what 
the  Mussulmans  called  a  sacred  war,  and  for  the  success  of 
which  public  prayers  had  been  ofi"ered  up ;  but  this  glory 
was  reserved  for  a  young  ^^arrior  brought  up  in  armies, 
whose  name  was  yet  unkno^vn  in  the  East. 


HISTORY    OF    TUE    CRUSADES.  397 

Saladin,*  this  young  warrior,  was  sprung  from  the  people 
who  inhabit  the  mountains  situated  beyond  the  Tio^ris.  His 
father  Ayoub,  and  his  uncle  Chirkou,  after  the  example  of 
the  warriors  of  their  nation,  M'ho  fight  for  pay  under  JMus- 
sulman  powers,  had  left  Curdistan  to  serve  in  the  troops  of 
the  sultan  of  Bagdad.  They  had  both  attained  high  mili- 
tary employments ;  but  Chirkou,  a  violent  and  brutal  man, 
having  run  through  the  body  with  his  sword  an  officer  of 
justice,  the  two  brothers  were  obliged  to  take  to  flight,  and 
came  to  offer  their  services  to  the  Attabeks  of  Syria,  whom 
they  assisted  in  their  wars  against  the  Christians.  The  young 
Saladin,  although  he  was  brought  up  at  the  court  of  Damas- 
cus, under  the  eye  of  an  ambitious  father,  did  not  at  first 
appear  to  be  eager  for  either  fortune  or  glory.  In  his  youth 
he  was  fond  of  dissipation  and  pleasures,  and  remained  a 
long  time  a  stranger  to  the  cares  of  politics  or  the  dangers 
and  labours  of  war.  Having  followed  his  uncle  Chirkou  in 
his  first  expeditions  to  Egypt,  he  had  distinguished  himself 
by  the  defence  of  Alexandria ;  but  he  suffered  so  much,  that 
when  JN^oureddin  commanded  him  to  return  to  the  banks  of 
the  Nile,  he  sought  pretexts  to  avoid  obedience.  When  the 
sultan  repeated  his  orders,  Saladin  set  out,  as  he  himself  said 
afterwards,  with  the  despair  of  a  man  who  is  led  to  death. 
"  Thus  it  is,"  says  the  historian  Hamad  Eddin,  who  was  for 
a  long  time  his  secretary,  "  that  men  know  not  what  they 
refuse  or  what  they  desire ;  but  God,  who  knows  all  things, 
sports  with  their  designs,  which  always  terminate  according 
to  the  views  of  Providence." 

At  the  death  of  Chirkou,  the  caliph  of  Egypt,  who  trem- 
bled for  his  power,  named  Saladin  to  the  post  of  vizier, 
because  he  thought  him  the  least  capable,  by  his  talents  or 

*  Saladin  has  had  many  historians.  Among  the  Arabian  authors  the 
most  celebrated  are  Bohaddin,  who  has  written  his  hfe  ;  Omad-el-Cathed, 
secretary  of  the  sultan,  and  author  of  the  Phatah  ;  Schahab-Eddin,  author 
of  the  hves  of  Noureddin  and  Saladin,  entitled  El  Revdatahis  (or  the  two 
gardens).  Several  particulars  relative  to  the  Mussulman  hero  are  to  be 
met  with  in  Aboulfeda,  who  was  of  the  family  of  Ayoub,  and  in  several 
other  Arabian  writers  quoted  by  D.  Bf  rthereau.  There  is  a  Life  of  Saladin 
in  French,  by  Marin.  In  the  Imperial  Library  [of  France — Trans.]  two 
manuscript  Lives  may  likewise  be  consulted,  one  by  the  Abbe  Renaudot, 
and  the  other  by  Galland,  the  translator  of  the  Thousand  and  One  Nights, 


398  HISTOKT    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

reputation,  of  usurping  the  supreme  authority.  The  son  of 
Avoub  deceived  both  the  king  and  the  army,  who  saw  in  him 
nothing  but  a  young  dissipated  soldier,  without  ambition. 
Eut  he  changed  his  conduct  and  reformed  his  manners ; 
liitherto  he  had  appeared  fit  only  for  the  idleness  and  the 
obsciu'ity  of  a  seraglio  ;  but,  all  at  once,  he  came  forth  a  new 
man,  like  one  born  for  empire.  His  gra^-ity  inspired  the 
respect  of  the  emirs  ;  his  liberality  secured  hun  the  sutfrages 
of  the  army  :  and  the  austerity  oi'  his  devotion  rendered  him 
dear  to  all  true  believers.  A  religious  revolution  Avhich  he 
brought  about  without  trouble  or  the  effusion  of  blood,  made 
known  his  prudence  and  humanity,  and  showed  that  fortune 
destined  him  for  extraordinary  things.  The  caliph  of  Bag- 
dad felicitated  him  publicly  ^yith  having  annihilated  the  sect 
of  the  Fatimites,  and  made  him  a  present  of  a  vest  of 
honoiu'.  His  name  was  celebrated  by  the  poets,  and  mLxed 
with  those  of  Mahomet  and  Xoui-eddin  in  the  pubhc  prayers. 

Saladin,  master  of  Egypt,  sent  for  his  father  Ayoub,  and 
Avished  to  associate  him  vdih  himself  in  the  government. 
When  Ayoub  arrived  at  Cairo  with  all  his  family,  he  was 
compared  to  Jacob,  and  Saladin  to  the  patriarch  Joseph, 
whose  name  he  bore.  Aided  by  the  counsels  of  his  father, 
Saladin  stilled  all  plots  de\dsed  against  him,  and  restrained 
the  ambition  and  jealousy  of  the  emirs. 

In  a  council  in  which  his  son  had  spoken  too  openly  of  his 
projects,  Ayoub,  brought  up  among  the  intrigues  of  the 
comets  of  Asia,  exclaimed  ^dth  vehemence  against  all  traitors, 
and  swore  he  would  cut  olf  the  head  of  even  Saladin  himself, 
if  he  received  orders  from  the  sultan  of  Damascus  to  do  so. 
"WTien  left  alone  with  his  son,  he  reproached  him  with  his 
indiscretion  and  imprudence.  "  I  have  spoken  against  you," 
added  he,  "  before  your  rivals  and  enemies  ;  but  know  that  if 
Noureddin  should  come  to  attack  you,  I  would  be  the  first  to 
take  arms  ;  if  he  required  only  the  tribute  of  a  sugar-cane  from 
us,  he  should  not  obtain  it  of  me."  According  to  the  advice 
of  Ayoub,  Saladin  spoke  only  of  his  perfect  submission  to 
the  commands  of  his  master,  and  took  honour  to  himself  as 
being  the  lowest  of  the  slaves  of  jS"oureddin,  to  whom  he 
sent  deputies  and  presents ;  but  he  could  not  destroy  all  his 
suspicions.  Xoureddin  had  determined  upon  going  into 
Egypt  himself,  when  death  surprised  liim,  and  delivered 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  399 

Saladiii  from  the  uneasiness  which  a  jealous  and  vindictive 
master  naturally  inspired. 

At  the  death  of  Noureddiu,  the  empire  founded  b_y  the 
Attabeks  declined  towards  its  rain.  The  sultan  of  the 
Attabeks  only  left  a  child  to  succeed  him,  the  emirs  abeady 
began  to  quarrel  for  the  divisions  of  his  power,  and  Syria 
was  about  to  return  to  the  chaos  into  which  the  fall  of  the 
Seljoucides  had  plunged  it.  The  Mussulman  nations,  ter- 
rified at  the  evils  before  them,  eagerly  sought  the  yoke  of 
Saladin,  and  recognised  with  joy  for  their  master  a  warrior 
who  was  the  only  person  capable  of  defending  their  religion 
or  their  dominions.  Saladin  inherited  not  only  the  power  of 
JNToiu-eddin,  but  was  anxious  to  follow  up  the  projects  of  his 
predecessor,  and  nothing  pleased  his  ambition  more  than  the 
idea  of  pursuing  the  war  against  the  Christians. 

Amaury,  instead  of  taking  advantage  of  the  troubles  of 
Syria,  was  desirous  of  resuming  his  projects  against  Egypt ; 
and  requesting  the  aid  of  the  emperor  of  Constantinople, 
the  latter  sent  him  a  fleet  and  some  troops.  The  Christians 
laid  siege  to  Damietta ;  but  the  eternal  divisions  between  the 
G-reeks  and  Latins  prevented  the  success  of  the  enterprise. 
Amaiury,  entertaining  still  the  hope  of  succeeding  in  his 
designs,  sent  ambassadors  into  Europe,  thinking  that  the 
prospect  of  the  conquest  of  Egypt  would  arm  the  knights 
of  the  West.  As  the  deputies  of  Amaury  returned  without 
obtaining  aid,  he  himself  repaired  to  Constantinople  to 
solicit  fresh  succours.  He  was  received  with  magnificence ; 
and  great  promises  were  made  him ;  but  he  died  wdthout 
seeino:  them  realized.  Thus  King  Amaurv,  during  the  whole 
of  his  reign,  had  but  one  single  thought,  for  which  he 
exhausted  all  the  resources  of  his  kingdom.  The  obstinacy 
which  he  evinced  for  the  execution  of  an  unfortunate  pro- 
ject, advanced  the  progress  of  the  Mussulmans,  and  must 
have  recalled  to  the  Christians  of  the  West  the  words  which 
the  prophets  repeated  to  the  Hebrews, — "  Children  of 
Israel,  direct  neither  your  looks  nor  your  steps  towards 
JEgyptr 

Amauiy,  at  his  death,  left  a  distressed  kingdom,  and  as 
the  governor  of  its  states  a  son,  thii'teen  years  of  age,  sick 
and  covered  with  leprosy.  Ba^nnond,  count  of  Tripoli,  and 
Milo  de  Plansy,  lord  of  Carac  and  Montroyal,  disputed  the 


400  HISTOKT    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

reofencv  durins:  the  minoritr  of  Youn^  Baldwiu.  MlIo,  by 
liis  intrigues,  obtained  the  suffrages  of  the  barons,  but  was 
found,  a  short  time  after,  pierced  with  several  wounds  in- 
flicted by  a  sword,  in  one  of  the  streets  of  Ptolemais : 
Eavmond  succeeded  his  rival,  with  whose  death  all  Palestine 
accused  him. 

The  father  of  the  count  of  Tripoli  had  been  killed  by  the 
Ismaehans.  and  he  himself  had  remained  eio:ht  vears  in  the 
chains  of  the  infidels.  The  fourth  in  descent  from  the 
famous  count  de  St.  Gilles,  he  possessed  the  bravery,  the 
activitv,  and  the  ambition  of  the  hero  from  whom  he  drew 
his  origin  ;  but  with  them,  that  obstinacv  of  character,  which, 
in  difficult  times,  irritates  the  passions  and  provokes  im- 
placable hatreds.  More  impatient  to  reign  over  the  Chris- 
tians than  to  conquer  the  infidels,  Uaymond  considered  the 
right  of  commaDding  men  as  the  onlv  reward  of  the  evils  he 
had  suffered  ;  he  demanded  with  haughtiness  the  recompense 
of  his  services  and  his  long  toils,  and  conceived  that  justice 
would  triumph,  and  the  safety  of  the  kingdom  be  preserved, 
solely  by  his  elevation. 

If,  amidst  the  disorders  which  continually  agitated  the 
Christian  states,  the  new  regent  had  had  sufficient  authority 
to  direct  the  policy  of  the  Franks,  and  make  peace  or  war 
at  his  will,  history  might  justly  accuse  him  of  having  favoured 
the  power  of  Saladin,  and  of  having  prepared  the  downfall 
of  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem.  After  the  death  of  iS^oiu'ed- 
din,  the  son  of  Avoub  had  had  to  contend  with  the  family 

-^  ft  ft 

of  his  old  master,  the  emirs  faithfid  to  the  d^Tiasty  of  the 

'  ft'  ••' 

Attabeks,  and  aU  who  wished  to  profit  by  the  troubles  of 
Svria,  and  erect  independent  states  for  themselves.  Prudence 
commanded  the  Christians  to  foment  the  discord  which  pre- 
vailed among  the  Saracens,  and  to  ally  themselves  with  even- 
party  which  was  opposed  to  Saladin.  Instead  of  following 
this  wholesome  policy,  and  stiiTing  up  war  in  S^Tia,  they 
determined  upon  renewmg  Amaury's  unfortunate  attempts 
upon  Egypt.  A  Sicihan  fleet  having  arrived  in  Palestine, 
aided  by  the  Sicilians,  the  Christians  laid  siege  to  Alexan- 

ft  •'  o 

dria,  where  aR  sorts  of  miseries  combined  to  destroy  their 
army.  Prequently-repeated  reverses  conveyed  no  instruc- 
tion to  the  Pranks  of  the  proper  manner  to  make  war  with 
Saladin.     As  they  were  returning  from  their  imprudent  and 


niSTOIir    OF    TUE    CKUSADES.  401 

unfortunate  expedition,  the  Mussulman  governor  of  the  city 
of  Emessa,  then  besieged  by  the  new  sultan  of  Damascus, 
solicited  their  alliance  and  support.  The  Christian  warriors, 
after  having  placed  a  price  upon  their  services  which  it  was 
impossible  the  governor  could  pay,  entered  upon  a  campaign 
without  an  object,  threatening  those  they  pretended  to 
defend,  and  ravaging  at  the  same  time  the  territories  of  their 
allies  and  their  enemies.  Nevertheless,  their  presence  in 
Syria,  and  their  transient  alliance  with  the  Mussulman 
princes,  alarmed  Saladin,  who  was  making  war  against  the 
son  of  Noureddin,  shut  up  in  the  city  of  Aleppo.  The 
sidtan,  resolving  to  keep  them  at  a  distance  from  the  theatre 
of  his  conquests,  made  their  leaders  brilliant  promises  and 
rich  presents,  and  soon  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  truce,  of 
which  he  took  advantage  to  strengthen  his  power  and  extend 
the  limits  of  his  empu-e. 

The  Pranks  returned  to  Jerusalem,  satisfied  with  having 
compelled  Saladin  to  ask  for  peace.  After  having  impru- 
dently consented  to  a  truce,  they  committed  n  second  fault, 
which  was  to  violate  the  treaty  they  had  just  signed,  and 
that  not  to  imdertake  an  important  enterprise,  but  to  make 
an  incursion  into  the  territories  of  Damascus.  They  rai^aged 
the  country,  and  pillaged  the  towns  and  villages  that  they 
found  without  defence,  whilst  Saladin  continued  making  use- 
ful conquests  in  Syria,  and  rendering  himself  sufficiently 
powerful  to  punish  them  for  the  infraction  of  their  engage- 
ments. 

The  sultan  of  Cairo  and  Damascus  soon  assembled  a  for- 
midable army  and  advanced  towards  Palestine.  The  whole 
country  was  in  flames  through  which  the  Saracens  passed ; 
at  their  approach  the  Christians  abandoned  the  cities  and 
towns  to  take  refuge  in  mountains  and  caverns.  Baldwin  IV., 
who  had  recently  assumed  the  reins  of  government,  placed 
himself  at  the  head  of  the  Franks ;  but  fearing  to  mea- 
sure himself  with  Saladin,  he  shut  himself  up  in  Ascalon, 
whence  he  contemplated  with  consternation  his  desolated 
provinces. 

Everything  appeared  to  presage  the  approaching  fall  of 
the  kingdom,  and  Saladin  was  already  distributing  its  cities 
among  his  emirs,  when.  Providence,  which  at  length  took 
pity  on  the   situation  of  the  Christians,  offered  them  an 


4:02  IIISTOEY    OF    THE    CETJSADEg. 

opportunity  of  repairing  their  misfortunes.  The  menaces 
ot  Saladin  and  the  sight  of  the  ravages  he  was  committing 
exasperated  the  Christian  soldiers.  Baldwin  led  forth  his 
army  from  Ascalon,  and  surprised  the  Mussulmans  in  the 
very  same  plains  whereon  Godfrey  and  the  leaders  of  the 
first  crusade  gained  their  celebrated  \T.ctory  over  the  Egypt- 
ians. Saladin  could  not  resist  the  impetuosity  of  their 
attack,  and  lost  the  battle  after  having  defended  himself 
valiantly  in  the  midst  of  his  Mamelukes,  a  new  military 
force,  which  he  had  himself  formed,  and  by  which  he  was 
always  surrounded  in  time  of  danger.  Saladin  saw  all  his 
army  perish  in  this  disastrous  battle,  which  was  never  effaced 
from  his  memory,  and  which,  as  he  said  in  a  letter,  "  made  the 
star  of  the  family  of  Ayoub  to  pale."  Mounted  on  a  camel, 
and  followed  by  a  few  officers,  Saladin  experienced  the  greatest 
daugers  in  his  flijiht  across  the  desert,  and  returned  almost 
alone  to  Egypt,  whence  he  had  so  recently  set  out  at  the 
head  of  a  formidable  army. 

And  yet  the  Christians  did  not  reap  much  advantage  from 
then  victory  ;  they  laid  siege  in  vain  to  the  cities  of  Hemessa 
and  Harem,  whilst  Saladin  soon  got  together  fresh  troops  in 
'Egvpt,  and  returned  to  threaten  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem. 
The  \'ictory  of  Ascalon  elated  the  Christians,  and  made  them 
rash ;  Saladin,  on  the  contrary,  rendered  more  cautious  by 
defeat,  took  advantage  of  every  false  step  of  his  enemies, 
planned  ambuscades,  employed  all  the  stratagems  of  war, 
and  several  times  surprised  and  beat  them  on  the  banks  of 
the  Jordan,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Paneas.  Baldwin,  who 
was  very  near  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Saracens,  col- 
lected all  the  forces  that  were  left  in  his  dominions  ;  but  he 
could  obtain  no  advantage  over  Saladin,  and  was  obhged  to 
sue  for  peace,  which  the  state  of  his  kingdom  and  his  own 
infirmities  rendered  every  day  more  necessary. 

The  leprosy  by  which  he  was  attacked  made  alarming  pro- 
gress ;  he  lost  his  sight,  and  was  no  longer  able  to  undertake 
the  cares  of  government.  As  he  mistrusted  most  of  the 
barons  and  leading  men  of  his  kingdom,  he  offered  the 
government  to  Philip,  count  of  Elanders,  who  was  come  into 
Asia  to  combat  the  infidels ;  but  Philip  preferred  making 
war  upon  the  Mussulmans  to  governing  the  Christians  of 
Palestine. 


HISTOET    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  403 

The  count  of  Tripoli  was  pointed  out  by  the  opinion  of 
both  the  people  and  the  nobles,  as  the  only  person  capable 
of  governing ;  but  the  suffrages  of  the  people  only  augmented 
the  suspicions  of  Baldwin,  who  had  long  dreaded  the  ambi- 
tion of  Raymond.  Obliged  to  abandon  a  throne,  the  weak 
monarch  trembled  at  the  idea  of  placing  on  it  a  man  who 
might  soon  make  him  forgotten ;  and  he  chose  in  preference 
a  knight  without  name  or  glory,  whose  only  title  arose  from 
his  having  espoused  Sibylla,  daughter  of  King  Amaury,  and 
widow  of  the  marquis  of  Montferrat,  surnamed  Long  Sword. 
Guy  of  Lusignan  did  not  justify  the  choice  of  Baldwin  by 
his  conduct,  and  disgusted  every  one  by  the  excess  of  his 
pride.  In  this  state  of  things,  the  interests  of  the  Christian 
colonies  required  that  the  truce  made  with  the  Mussulmans 
should  be  strictly  observed ;  but  such  was  then  the  destiny 
of  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem,  that  nobody  had  sufficient 
power  or  ascendancy  to  maintain  peace,  whilst  the  meanest 
of  the  barons  or  knights  could,  at  his  w^ill,  provoke  war. 
The  rashness  and  imprudence  of  one  man  again  brought 
dow^n  upon  Palestine  the  whole  force  of  Saladin. 

Old  chronicles  have  related  the  romantic  adventures  and 
extraordinarv  fortune  of  Eenaud  de  Chatillon.  Born  at 
Chatillon-sur-Indre,  of  obscure  parents,  he  followed  the 
army  of  Louis  the  Young  into  Asia,  and  enrolled  himself  in 
the  troops  of  Raymond  of  Poictiers,  prince  of  Antioch.  Ray- 
mond having  lost  his  life  in  battle,  his  widow  Constance  was 
solicited  to  select  a  new  husband,  who  might  be  associated 
with  her  in  the  government.  This  princess  passed  by  the 
most  illustrious  nobles  and  knights,  for  she  had  remarked 
the  personal  beauty  and  chivalric  bravery  of  Renaud  de 
Chatillon,  and  would  accept  of  no  other  husband.  By  this 
marriage,  w^hich,  according  to  "William  of  Tyre,  filled  the 
Christian  barons  with  surprise,  she  all  at  once  raised  a 
young  obscure  man  to  the  throne  of  Antioch. 

Although  Renaud  de  Chatillon  had  obtained  the  love  of 
Constance,  he  could  not  conciHate  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  his  new  subjects.  A  formidable  party  was  formed  against 
him,  at  the  head  of  which  was  the  patriarch  Amaury. 
Renaud,  full  of  vexation  and  anger,  cast  into  prison  all  who 
were  opposed  to  him.  By  his  orders  the  patriarch  was  led  to 
the  top  of  one  of  the  towers  of  the  citadel,  and,  with  his  bare 

Vol.  L— 19 


404  iiisTOiiY  or  TILE  ciirsjLDEa. 

head  rubbed  vrith  houey,  left,  in  the  heat  of  summer,  during 
a  whole  day  exposed  to  flies  and  insects.*  Eenaud  de  Cha- 
tillon,  after  ha^ing  tilled  the  city  of  Ascalon  with  terror  and 
mourning,  was  desirous  of  signalizing  his  reign  by  some 
warlike  enterprise.  Become  the  leader  of  an  army  in  which 
he  had  been  a  soldier,  he  began  by  making  war  against  the 
emperor  of  Constantinople,  and  armed  several  vessels,  with 
which  he  ravaged  the  isle  of  C}~prus.  The  Greek  emperor 
hastened  to  avenge  the  insult,  and  was  soon  with  an  army 
encamped  within  sight  of  Ascalon.  Eenaud  not  being  mas- 
ter of  a  sufficient  force  with  which  to  defend  himself,  had 
recourse  to  baseness  to  disarm  the  anger  of  his  enemy,  and 
came,  with  a  cord  round  his  neck,  and  torn  vestments,  to  lay 
his  sword  at  the  feet  of  the  emperor,  who  granted  him  peace. 
TV^hen  the  Greeks  had  resumed  their  way  to  Constantinople, 
Henaud  tamed  his  arms  against  the  Saracens.  He  at  once 
put  to  flight  the  army  of  Xoureddin,  who  had  advanced  to- 
wards the  territor}'  of  Antioch ;  but,  led  away  by  thirst  for 
booty,  he  fell  into  an  ambuscade,  was  made  prisoner  and 
conducted  to  Aleppo,  where  the  Mussulmans  detained  him 
many  years.  At  last  some  of  his  ancient  companions  suc- 
ceeded in  breaking  his  chains,  and  what  is  not  unworthy  of 
remark,  the  produce  of  the  booty  made  in  an  incursion  on 
the  territories  of  Damascus  was  the  price  of  his  liberty. 

When  Henaud  de  Chatillon  issued  from  his  captivity,  his 
wife  Constance  was  no  longer  hving,  and  the  son  of  Eay- 
mond,  arrived  at  tlie  age  of  maturity,  governed  the  pruici- 
pality  of  Antioch,  Eenaud  repaired  to  Jerusalem,  where 
the  remembrance  of  his  exploits  and  misfortunes,  suffered 
in  the  cause  of  the  Christians,  secured  him  a  welcome  from 
the  king  and  the  barons.  Having,  m  a  second  marriage, 
espoused  the  widow  of  Homfrey  de  Thourou,  he  became  lord 
of  Carac,  and  some  castles  situated  on  the  confixies  of  Arabia 
and  Palestine.  Eenaud  led  into  these  cities  and  fortresses 
a  great  number  of  Templars,  whom  he  associated  with  his 
fortunes.  He  had  just  established  himself  there,  and  had 
already  begun  to  ravage  the  frontiers  of  Arabia,  when  the 

*  This  was  a  common  punishment  in  the  East.  In  the  Persian  "  boai- 
death,^'  as  described  by  Plutarch,  the  criminal  was  nailed  down  in  a  boat, 
leaving  only  his  head  bare ; — thus  smeared,  exposed,  and  left  t«  AW. — 
Trajis. 


HISTORY    OF   TUE    CKUSADES.  405 

truce  was  concluded  T^-ith  Saladin.  Kotliiug  could  induce 
Henaud  de  Chatillon  to  lay  down  liis  arms ;  every  day  he 
made  fresh  forays  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Carac,  and  plun- 
dered the  caravans  of  the  Mussulman  pilgrims  on  their  vraj 
to  Mecca.  Heedless  of  the  rights  of  nations  or  humanity, 
he  imprisoned  women  and  children,  and  massacred  unarmed 
men. 

Saladin  complained  to  Baldwin  of  these  infractions  of 
treaties  ;  but  it  was  not  in  the  power  of  the  king  of  Jerusa- 
lem to  give  him  the  satisfaction  he  demanded.  The  sultan, 
irritated  by  the  conduct  of  the  Franks,  seized  fifteen  hun- 
dred pilgrims,  who  were  cast  upon  the  shores  of  Egypt  by 
a  tempest,  and  threatened  to  detain  them  unless  the  Mus- 
sulman prisoners  were  promptly  set  at  liberty.  Neither  the 
demands  of  Saladin,  nor  the  prayers  of  Baldwin,  nor  even 
the  fate  of  the  Christian  captives,  had  the  least  effect  upon 
Eenaud  de  Chatillon  and  the  Templars,  so  long  accustomed 
to  sport  with  all  treaties  made  with  the  Mussulmans. 

Thereupon  Saladin  again  determined  upon  war,  and  set 
out  a  third  time  from  the  banks  of  the  Nile,  to  enter  Pales- 
tine at  the  head  of  an  army.  At  the  approach  of  danger, 
the  Christians  united  their  efforts  to  stop  the  progress  of 
the  Saracens.  An  assembly,  formed  of  all  classes  of  citizens, 
ordered  a  general  contribution  to  be  levied,  the  produce  of 
which  was  employed  in  repairing  the  fortifications  of  the 
castles  and  cities,  whilst  all  the  barons  and  knights  flew  to 
arms.  But  the  time  was  not  yet  come  in  which  Saladin 
should  invade  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem.  In  each  of  his 
expeditions  he  appeared  to  try  the  strength  of  the  Christians, 
and  when  he  met  with  strong  resistance,  waited  patiently 
for  a  more  favourable  moment.  After  having  ravaged  Gali- 
lee by  his  lieutenants,  and  commenced  the  siege  of  Berouth, 
he  suddenly  drew  off  his  forces  to  go  and  make  war  upon 
the  Attabeks,  who  were  masters  of  Mossoul  and  several 
cities  of  Mesopotamia. 

The  Christians  took  no  other  advantage  of  his  absence 
but  to  renew  their  incursions  upon  the  territory  of  Damas- 
cus. Eenaud  de  Chatillon  made  several  expeditions  to  the 
shores  of  the  Bed  Sea,  and  even  conceived  the  daring  pro- 
ject of  going  to  the  cities  of  Mecca  and  Medina,  and  plun- 
dering the  Kaaba  and  the  tomb  of  the  Prophet.    A  troop  of 


406  HISTOET    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

intrepid  warriors  set  foi-ward  on  their  marcli  under  his 
orders  ;  they  surprised  the  Egyptian  merchants  who  were 
bearing  back  the  treasures  of  India,  by  way  ot  the  Bed  Sea ; 
and,  preceded  by  terror,  advanced  in  triumph,  into  a  country 
which  had  never  before  seen  the  Christians.  Eenaud  and 
his  companions  had  already  reached  the  valley  of  Kabid, 
situated  ten  leagues  from  Medina,  when  they  were  surprised 
and  attacked  by  a  Mussulman  army,  which  had  been  hastily 
despatched  from  Syria.  After  an  obstinate  and  sanguinary 
combat,  victory  favoured  the  Saracens.  Eenaud  escaped  the 
pursuit  of  the  conquerors  as  if  by  a  miracle,  and  returned 
with  a  small  number  of  his  troops  to  the  castle  of  Carac. 
Some  of  the  prisoners  were  led  into  Egypt,  where  the  sen- 
tence of  the  cadis  condemned  them  to  the  death  of  the 
lowest  criminals.  Others  were  conveyed  to  Mecca,  where 
their  blood  was  shed  with  that  of  the  Aictims  immolated  at 
the  ceremony  of  the  great  Ba^-ram.* 

These  horrible  executions  did  not  satisfy  the  vengeance  of 
Saladin.  AVhen  he  heard  of  the  expedition  of  the  Chris- 
tians, which  he  considered  a  frightful  sacrilege,  his  anger 
knew  no  bounds,  and  he  swore  upon  the  Koran  to  revenge 
the  insult  offered  to  the  Mussulman  religion.  The  sultan, 
whom  the  Christians  already  styled  the  scourge  of  God,  re- 
entered Galilee  \^-ith  sword  and  flame,  and  advanced  towards 
the  castle  of  Carac,  constantly  repeating  the  oath  he  had 
taken  of  slaying  Eenaud  with  his  own  hand.  The  Mussul- 
mans would  have  rendered  themselves  masters  of  the  castle, 
but  for  the  bravery  of  one  knight,  who  alone  maintained  the 
drawbridge,  and  by  a  glorious  death  deprived  Saladin  of 
this  conquest.  A  Christian  army  was  soon  upon  the  march 
to  repel  this  attack  of  the  Saracens.  Saladin,  despairing  for 
the  present  of  wreaking  his  revenge  upon  Eenaud,  laid 
waste  the  lands  on  the  banks  of  the  Jordan,  in  the  very  face 
of  the  Christian  army,  which  did  not  dare  to  attack  him. 
After  having  several  times  renewed  his  attempts  upon  the 
fortress  of  Carac,  and  given  up  to  the  flames  Naplouse, 
Sebosto,  and  several  other  cities,  he  at  length  consented  to  a 
truce,  and  led  back  his  army  into  Mesopotamia. 

*   Schahabbedin,    Tabari,    and    Aboulfeda   relate   this   fact   at   great 
length. 


HISTORY    or    THE    CRUSADES.  407 

Saladin  availed  himself  of  the  peace  made  with  the  Chris- 
tians, to  dissipate  tlie  troubles  ^Yhich  had  arisen  in  his  states, 
and  to  pursue  his  conquests  in  Syria.  At  each  truce  he  got 
possession  of  a  city  or  a  province ;  he  extended  his  domi- 
nions, and  thus  placed  under  his  control  countries  which 
became  so  many  the  more  enemies  for  the  Christians.  The 
Franks,  on  the  contrary,  when  war  was  suspended,  gave 
themselves  madly  up  to  their  internal  divisions  ;  peace  with 
them  gave  birth  to  a  thousand  new  factions,  and  the  king- 
dom  then  found  in  its  own  bosom  enemies  much  more  dan- 
gerous than  those  against  whom  they  had  been  at  war. 

The  knights  and  barons,  on  their  retin-n  to  Jerusalem, 
accused  Gruy  de  Lusignan  of  having  neglected  the  opportu- 
nity for  conquering  Saladin,  and  reproached  him  with  having 
permitted  the  ravages  exercised  by  the  Mussulmans  in  the 
richest  provinces  of  Palestine.  Baldwin,  who  had  yielded  up 
the  royal  authority  with  great  regret,  listened  to  the  com- 
plaints of  the  barons,  and  hastened  to  reascend  a  tottering 
throne.  He  undertook  to  dissolve  the  marriage  with  Sibylla, 
and  cited  Gruy  de  Lusignan  before  the  patriarch  of  Jerusa- 
lem and  the  nobles  of  the  kingdom,  in  order  to  deprive  him 
of  the  counties  of  Ascalon  and  Jaffa.  As  Gruy  did  not  ap- 
pear on  the  day  named,  Baldwin,  although  infirm  and  blind, 
repaired  to  Antioch,  and  finding  the  gates  shut,  struck  them 
several  times  with  his  hand  without  causing  them  to  be 
opened.*  This  unfortunate  prince  caUed  upon  Heaven  to 
witness  this  insult,  and  returned  to  Jerusalem,  swearing  to 
revenge  himself  upon  Gruy  de  Lusignan.  On  his  side,  Guy 
no  longer  observed  any  measures,  but  took  up  arms  to  sus- 
tain his  revolt.  In  this  emergency,  Baldwin  could  find  no 
better  means  of  punishing  Gruy  than  to  oppose  to  him  a 
regent  and  a  new  king.  By  his  orders,  Baldwin  Y.,  who 
was  five  years  of  age,  and  born  of  the  first  marriage  of 
Sibylla  with  the  son  of  the  marquis  de  Montferrat,  was 
crowned  in  the  church  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  in  the  pre- 
sence of  the  nobles  and  the  clergy.  Eaymond,  count  of 
Tripoli,  less  odious  to  Baldwin  than  Gruy,  obtained  the  re- 
gency and  assumed  the  reins  of  government. 

The  kii^gdom  of  Jerusalem,  which  had  proceeded  rapidly 

*  I  am  inclined  to  think  this  was  a  kind  of  ceremony — the  liege  lord 
demanding  entrance  to  the  fortress  of  his  vassal. — Trans. 


408  nisTOEY  or  the  ceusades. 

to  decay  since  the  reisri  of  Bald^vin  III.,  became  now  an 
object  worthy  of  pity.  The  stormy  passions,  almost  always 
inseparable  from  a  feudal  government,  had  long  since  weak- 
ened all  the  springs  of  authority.  The  royalty,  for  whose 
remains  thev  were  quarrellmg,  was  nothing  but  a  vain  name ; 
in  the  mJdst  of  the  factions  by  which  he  was  surrounded,  a 
king  of  Jerusalem  coidd  neither  revenge  his  o^ti  injuries, 
nor  those  of  the  Church  or  of  Christ.  Want  of  courage 
was  the  only  crime  he  could  punish  without  exciting  the 
murmurs  of  the  barons,  because  with  them  cowards  found 
no  defenders.  Amaury  had  ignominiously  hung  twelve 
Templars,  accused  of  having  neglected  the  defence  of  a  for- 
tress :  but  he  had  not  the  nower  to  receive  an  ambassador 
sent  by  the  Old  Man  of  the  Jlountain,  in  whom  the  hope  of 
freeing  Inmself  from  a  tribute  paid  to  the  grand  master  of 
the  Templars,  had  awakened  a  desire  to  become  a  Christian. 
AVhen  the  ambassador  was  assassinated  in  Jerusalem  bv  a 

* 

Tem.plar,  Amaury  liad  no  autliority  to  bring  the  murderer 
to  judgment ;  deplorable  weakness  of  a  king  who  possesses 
not  the  first  prerogative  of  royalty,  that  of  maintaining  jus- 
tice and  causing  the  rights  of  nations  to  be  respected ! 

The  kingdom  was  covered  A^-ith  strong  castles,  the  com- 
manders of  which  barely  recognised  the  authority  of  the 
king.  On  the  summit  of  every  mountain  upon  which  ap- 
peared threatening  towers,  in  caverns  even,  Avhich  had  been 
transformed  into  fortresses,  barons  commanded  as  masters, 
and  made  peace  or  war  at  their  pleasure.  The  military 
orders,  the  only  support  of  the  state,  were  divided  among 
themselves,  and  sometimes  shed  their  blood  in  quarrels  fatal 
to  the  cause  of  the  Christians. 

Discord  reigned  between  the  clergy'  and  the  knights  of 
the  Temple  and  St.  John ;  the  military  orders  were  not  sub- 
ject to  the  jurisdiction  of  ecclesiastics,  and  the  clerg}',  accus- 
tomed to  dictate  laws  to  princes,  could  not  endure  the 
hauijhtv  independence  of  a  few  warriors.  Led  awav  bv  the 
spirit  of  discord,  the  Hospitallers  raised  edifices  in  front  of  the 
church  of  the  Resurrection,  and  often  drowned  the  voices 
of*  the  priests  who  celebrated  the  praises  of  G-od  at  the  foot 
of  his  altars.  Som.e  of  them  even  ^ent  so  far  as  to  pureue 
priests  with  arrow-shots  into  the'  very  church  of  the  Holy 
Sepidchre.  As  the  only  vengeance,  the  priests  gatliered 
together  in  bundles  the  arrov>s  that  had  been  shot  at  them. 


HISTORY    OE    THE    CRUSADES.  409 

and  placed  them  on  an  elevated  spot  on  the  Mount  of  Olives, 
that  every  one  might  be  acquainted  with  the  sacrilege. 

These  quarrels,  which  were  every  day  renewed,  were  car- 
ried before  the  tribunal  of  the  Holy  See,  whose  decisions 
frequently  only  inflamed  the  minds  of  the  disputants  the 
more.  The  Church  of  Home,  very  far  from  restoring  peace 
to  the  Christians  of  the  East,  often  cast  amongst  them  fresh 
coals  of  discord.  The  schisms  which  troubled  the  A¥est, 
more  than  once  kindled  war  in  the  holy  places,  even  upon 
the  tomb  of  Christ. 

Concord  seldom  prevailed  long  between  the  inhabitants  of 
Palestine  and  the  European  warriors  who  came  into  Asia  to 
combat  the  infidels.  The  Syrian  barons  employed  the  forces 
of  their  auxiliaries  to  carry  out  their  own  ambitious  views  ; 
and  the  latter,  by  their  pride  and  disdain,  laid  a  high  price 
upon  their  services.  Almost  always  on  the  arrival  of  fresh 
pilgrims,  a  treaty  was  violated  or  a  truce  broken,  in  order  to 
make  incursions  upon  the  territories  of  the  Saracens ;  and 
not  unfrequently,  the  Crusaders,  without  even  seeing  the 
enemy,  abandoned  Palestine  to  the  perils  of  a  war  they  had 
themselves  provoked. 

In  the  cities,  particularly  the  maritime  cities,  several 
nations  dwelt  together,  and  disputed  precedence  and  sove- 
reignty, sword  in  hand.  All  who  came  to  establish  them- 
selves in  the  Holy  Land,  brought  with  them  and  preserved 
the  remembrances  and  prejudices  of  their  native  country. 
In  the  cities  of  Ascalon,  Tyre,  or  Ptolemais,  the  inhabitants 
were  much  more  interested  in  the  glory  and  prosperity  of 
Pisa,  Grenoa,  and  Venice,  than  in  the  safety  of  the  kingdom 
of  Jerusalem. 

The  greater  part  of  the  barons  and  knights  displayed 
none  of  the  heroic  resignation  of  the  early  soldiers  of  the 
cross,  in  supporting  fatigues  or  braving  difficidties.  Since 
the  conquest  of  Egypt  had  been  contemplated,  war  was  only 
considered  as  a  means  of  acquiring  wealth ;  and  the  thirst 
for  booty  destroyed  the  principle  of  honour,  the  love  of  glory, 
and  even  all  anxiety  for  the  cause  of  Christ.  The  question 
was  no  longer  what  enemy  was  to  be  attacked,  what  ally  was 
to  be  defended,  but  what  city  or  province  was  to  be  delivered 
up  to  pillage.  Discipline  degenerated  in  the  camp ;  the 
Christian  warriors  still  displayed  their  natural  bravery,  but 
they  neither  knew  how  to  obey  nor  to  command,  and  anarchy 


410  HISTOEY    or    THE    CEUSADES. 

reigned  as  completely  in  the  amiy  as  througliout  the  king- 
dom. Many  of  the  leaders  abandoned  their  colours  under 
the  most  perilous  circumstances,  and  sold  their  inaction  or 
their  neutrality.  Some,  like  the  Templar  Meslier  and  his 
companions,  forgetful  of  their  vows,  ravaged  the  Christian 
provinces  ;  whilst  others,  urged  on  by  ambition  or  vengeance, 
allied  themselves  with  the  Saracens,  and  received  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  infidels  the  reward  of  their  disgraceful  apostasy. 
Heligion,  which  ought  to  have  been  the  connecting  tie 
between  the  Christians  established  in  the  Holy  Land,  and 
which  alone  could  preserve  among  them  sentiments  of  pa- 
ti'iotism, — religion  had  lost  all  empire  over  their  minds.  AYar 
was  still  made  in  its  name,  but  its  laws  were  impractised  and 
unacknowledged.  The  conversion  of  the  Maronites  of  Liba- 
nus,  who  rejoined  the  Church  of  Eome  in  the  reign  of  Bald- 
win TV.,  was  celebrated  at  Jerusalem  as  a  victory  gained 
over  heresy,  but  it  had-  not  the  effect  of  bringing  back  the 
Christians  to  the  spirit  of  the  Scriptures.  Pious  men  who 
lived  in  a  con'upted  age,  groaned  under  the  depra^-ity  of 
manners  which  every  day  made  such  frightful  progress.* 
The  respectable  archbishop  of  Tp-e  trembles  as  he  traces  the 
history'  of  this  unhappy  period,  and  fears  lest  truth  should 
give  to  his  recitals  the  colour  of  satire.  "  There  is,"  says 
he,  "  scarcely  one  chaste  woman  to  be  found  in  the  city  of 
Jerusalem."  The  leaders  of  the  Christian  colonies,  equally 
vrith  the  heads  of  the  Church,  themselves  set  the  example  of 
licentiousness.  The  Christians  beheld  a  queen  of  Jerusalem, 
the  widow  of  Baldwin  III.,  keep  up  a  criminal  intercourse 
with  Andronicus,  and  seek  an  abode  among  the  Saracens 
"uith  the  companion  of  her  debaucheries.f  Bohemond, 
prince  of  Antioch,  repudiated  his  wife  Erina,  to  espouse  a 
courtesan.  The  patriarch,  disgusted  with  such  a  scandal,  ex- 
communicated young  Bohemond,  and  placed  an  interdict 

*  Jacques  de  Vitri  does  not  spare  the  Christians  of  the  East  in  his 
History,  particularly  in  the  chapters  entitled  "  De  corruptione  prselato- 
rum  ;  de  regTilaribus  irregtdariter  viventibus ;  de  corruptione  Terrse 
Sanctae."  The  satires  of  Juvenal  would  appear  moderate  by  the  side  of 
the  pages  of  this  historian,  who  had  been  in  the  Holy  Land  in  the  quality 
of  a  legate. 

t  This  was  the  sanae  Andronicus  who  afterwards  ascended  the  throne 
of  Constantinople,  and  became  notorious  for  his  cruelties. 


HISTOEY   OE   THE    CRUSADES.  411 

upon  his  states  ;  and  tlius  the  guilty  amours  of  a  Christian 
prince  produced  trouble  and  desolation  throughout  a  whole 
nation.  The  sight  even  of  the  tomb  of  Christ  was  unable 
to  inspire  more  holy  thoughts.  The  patriarch  Heraclius, 
who  only  owed  his  elevation  to  mundane  and  profane  quali- 
ties, lavished  the  treasures  due  to  pilgrims  and  the  poor, 
upon  infamous  prostitutes,  and  the  Christian  people  were 
often  astonished  to  see  the  notorious  Paque  de  Rivery  dis- 
play, even  in  the  sanctuary,  ornaments  purchased  with  the 
alms  of  the  faithful. 

A  people  thus  degenerated  could  not  possibly  preserve  the 
kingdom  of  Christ.  Tlie  eyes  of  all  were  turned  towards 
the  West,  and  Heraclius,  attended  by  the  two  grand  mas- 
ters of  the  Temple  and  St.  John,  was  sent  into  Europe  to 
solicit  the  prompt  assistance  of  kings  and  their  warriors. 
The  king  of  France,  Philip  Augustus,  received  the  Christian 
deputies  with  great  honoLu-s ;  but  as  he  had  but  recently  as- 
cended the  throne,  the  interests  of  his  kingdom  would  not 
permit  him  to  go  in  person  to  the  defence  of  Jerusalem. 
Henry  II.,  king  of  England,  appeared  to  be  the  last  hope  of 
the  Christians  ;  he  had  promised  the  pope  to  make  the  pil- 
gi'image  to  the  Holy  Land,  as  an  expiation  of  the  murder  of 
the  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  Heraclius  repaired  to  his 
court,  presenting  him  with  the  keys  and  standard  of  the 
Holy  Sepulchre,  and  pressing  him  to  perform  his  promise. 
The  bad  reputation  of  the  patriarch  had  preceded  him  into 
Europe,  and  very  much  weakened  the  effect  of  his  words ; 
he  displayed,  likewise,  neither  the  meekness  nor  the  charity 
of  the  Scriptmes,  and  only  irritated  those  whom  he  sought 
to  persuade  or  convince.  As  the  English  monarch  hesitated 
to  fulfil  his  promises,  alleging  his  advanced  age  and  the  wel- 
fare of  his  dominions,  Heraclius  loaded  him  with  the  most 
outrageous  reproaches,  threatening  him  with  the  anger  of 
Heaven.  The  aged  Henry  appearing  irritated  by  this  lan- 
guage, the  patriarch  redoubled  his  insolence  and  pride. 
"You  may,"  said  he,  on  terminating  his  discourse,  "treat 
me  as  you  treated  my  brother  Thomas,  for  it  is  quite  indif- 
ferent to  me  whether  I  die  in  Syria  by  the  hands  of  infidels, 
or  perish  here  by  the  orders  of  you  who  are  more  wicked 
than  a  Saracen."  Henry  endeavoured  to  conceal  his  anger, 
and  did  not  dare  to  punish  the  envoy  of  the  Christians  ;  he 

19* 


412  iriSTOHY    OF   TUE    CRrSADES. 

even  treated  liim  with  great  magnificence,  "but  yet  did  not 
leave  England.  He  contented  himself  with  sending  the 
Christians  of  Jerusalem  a  large  sum  of  money,  and  exhort- 
ino-  his  subjects  to  arm  themselves  for  the  defence  of  the 
Holy  Land. 

The  zeal  for  crusades  began  at  this  time  to  abate,  and 
several  ambassadors  retiu'ned  to  Jerusalem  without  having 
been  able  to  arouse  the  enthusiasm  of  the  western  Chris- 
tians. iSTations,  to  be  excited  to  active  ardour  for  holy 
wars,  required  the  example  of  princes  or  kings.  The  war- 
riors of  Europe  paid  little  attention  to  the  exhortations  of 
the  pope  and  Heraclius.  The  deputies  returned  into  Pales- 
tine without  having  obtained  the  assistance  they  demanded ; 
and  their  appearance  produced  discouragement  and  despair 
among  all  the  Christians  of  the  East. 

The  unfortunate  king,  Baldwin,  had  entirely  lost  the 
faculties  of  both  mind  and  body  ;  and,  tormented  by  his  suf- 
ferings, he  every  day  drew  nearer  to  the  tomb,  presenting 
but  too  faithful  an  image  of  the  weakness  and  decline  of  his 
kingdom.  Whilst  the  approach  of  death  filled  his  palace 
with  mourning,  parties  contended  for  a  throne  which  tottered 
to  its  fall,  and  for  a  crown  which  the  most  wise  compared  to 
the  crown  of  thorns  of  Christ.  AVhen  he  closed  his  eyes, 
the  e\'ils  increased,  and  discord  submitted  to  no  restraint. 
The  count  of  Tripoli  wished  to  retain  the  reins  of  govern- 
ment as  regent ;  whilst  Sibylla  was  desirous  of  bestowing 
the  sceptre  upon  her  husband.  In  the  midst  of  these  dis- 
sensions Baldwin  Y.,  the  weak  and  fragile  hope  of  the  king- 
dom, died  suddenly.  All  who  had  aspired  to  his  authority 
were  accused  of  his  death  :  unhappy  period,  in  which  such 
accusations  could  possibly  be  well  founded,  and  in  which  a 
whole  people  could  think  of  reproaching  a  queen  with  the 
murder  of  her  own  son  ! 

Scarcely  was  Baldwin  dead  than  his  mother  desired  to 
reign  in  his  place ;  and  in  order  to  satisfy  the  ambition  of 
herself  and  Guy  de  Lusignan,  she  disdained  no  artifice  and 
spared  no  perfidious  promises.  Whilst  the  count  of  Tripoli 
was  gathering  together  at  jS'aplouse  the  barons  and  principal 
men  of  the  kingdom,  the  daughter  of  Amaury,  by  the  advice 
of  the  patriarch  and  the  grand  master  of  the  Templars, 
announced   her  intention   of  separating  herself  from  her 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CKUS_ides.  413 

husband,  aud  clioosing  a  ^Ya^rior  able  to  defend  the  kingdom. 
AVben  this  report  had  circulated  through  Jerusalem,  Sibylla 
ordered  the  gates  of  the  city  to  be  shut,  and  repaired  to  the 
church  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre.  In  the  presence  of  the 
tomb  of  Christ,  Heraclius  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  her 
in  the  name  of  the  clergy  and  the  people,  pronounced  her 
divorce  with  a  loud  voice,  and  commanded  her  in  the  name 
of  Heaven  to  bestow  her  hand  and  sceptre  upon  him  she 
deemed  most  worthy  of  them.  At  these  words  Sibylla 
placed  the  crown  upon  the  head  of  her  husband,  who  was 
on  his  knees  before  her,  saying  it  was  not  in  the  power  of 
man  to  separate  those  whom  God  had  united. 

Whilst  a  part  of  the  people  and  some  of  the  barons, 
seduced  by  vain  promises,  applauded  the  choice  of  Sibylla, 
the  partisans  of  Kaymond  were  highly  indignant  at  having 
been  deceived  by  a  woman.  The  coronation  of  Gruy  de 
Lusignan  naturally  alarmed  all  who  thought  that  Jerusalem 
stood  in  less  need  of  a  king  than  of  a  defender.  Baldwin 
of  Eamla,  one  of  the  most  skilful  captains  of  his  times, 
despaired  of  the  safety  of  the  kingdom,  and  retired  into 
the  principality  of  Antioch,  repeating  the  threats  of  the 
prophets  against  Jerusalem.  Geoftrey  de  Lusignan,  when 
he  heard  of  the  elevation  of  his  brother,  could  not  forbear 
exclaiming  :  "  Well,  if  they  have  made  a  king  of  him,  they 
would  have  made  a  god  of  me  if  they  had  Jcnown  Twe." 

When  that  which  had  taken  place  at  Jerusalem  was  an- 
nounced to  the  barons  assembled  at  Naplouse,  most  of  them 
I'esolved  to  abandon  Palestine ;  but  the  count  of  Tripoli 
detained  them,  advising  them  to  name  a  new  king,  and 
bestow  the  crown  upon  Homfrey  de  Thorou,  who  had  re- 
cently married  Isabella,  the  second  daughter  of  Amaury. 
He  even  promised  to  gain  the  support  of  Saladin  for  this 
election,  and  succeeded  in  persuading  the  assembly.  Whilst 
they  were  yet  deliberating,  young  Homfrey,  terrified  at  the 
burden  they  wished  to  impose  upon  him,  iled  away  secretly 
by  night,  and  hastened  to  the  capital  to  ask  pardon  of  Queen 
Sibylla,  protesting  that  he  preferred  ease  and  life  to  the 
throne  of  Jerusalem.  This  ilight  disconcerted  all  measures 
and  changed  all  projects.  Several  barons,  not  knowing  to 
what  party  it  would  be  best  to  ally  themselves,  went  and 
took  the  oath  to  Guy  de  Lusignan ;  whilst  others,  returning 


414  HISTOEY    OF    TUE    CiiUSADES. 

to  their  castles,  awaited  coming  events.  Eaymond  retired 
to  his  county  of  Tiberias,  of  which  he  had  obtained  the 
sovereignty. 

The  retreat  and  the  murmnrs  of  the  enemies  of  Gruv  only 
increased  his  pride.  The  more  he  stood  in  need- of  mildness 
and  moderation,  the  more  haucrhtiness  and  severitr  he  dis- 
plaved.  His  disdainful  manners  drove  from  him  the  barons 
who  had  remained  faithful  to  him.  Stimulated  by  the  grand 
master  of  the  Templars,  who  was  the  declared  enemy  of  the 
count  of  Tripoh,  he  made  preparations  to  besiege  the  city 
of  Tiberias  ;  whilst  Eaymond,  who  was  determined  to  defend 
himself,  carried  away  by  the  excess  of  his  anger,  implored 
the  aid  of  Saladin  against  the  king  of  Jerusalem. 

At  the  approach  of  the  e^ils  about  to  fall  upon  the 
kingdom,  nothing  was  heard  but  complaints  and  seditious 
clamours ;  but  neither  the  dangers  of  the  Christian  colonies, 
nor  the  aspect  of  the  threatened  holy  places,  could  silence 
ambition  or  check  revolt.  The  historian  of  the  kingdom  of 
Jerusalem  here  feels  the  pen  fall  from  his  hand,  and  stops, 
terrified  at  the  events  which  are  left  for  him  to  describe. 

Amidst  the  general  disorder  and  agitation,  the  supersti- 
tious minds  of  the  Chiistians  beheld  nothing  in  the  future 
but  great  calamities,  and  ever^'thing  seemed  to  present 
sinister  presages  to  their  eyes.  "  The  signs  which  were  dis- 
played in  the  heavens,"  says  a  contemporary  chronicle, 
"  allowed  it  to  be  plainly  perceived  that  God  held  in  abomi- 
nation that  which  was  going  on.  Impetuous  winds,  tem- 
pests, and  storms  arose  on  all  sides ;  the  Hght  of  the  sun 
was  obscured  daring  several  days,  and  hailstones  as  large  as 
the  eggs  of  a  goose  fell  from  heaven.  The  earth,  equally 
agitated  by  frequent  and  horrible  earthquakes,  gave  notice 
of  coming  ruin  and  destruction,  with  disasters  and  defeats 
in  war  which  were  soon  to  visit  the  kingdom.  Neither  could 
the  sea  confine  itself  within  its  boimds  and  limits,  but  an- 
nounced to  us,  by  its  horrible  floods  or  its  unusually  impe- 
tuous "uaves,  the  anger  of  God  ready  to  fall  upon  us.  Fire 
was  seen  blazing  in  the  air  like  a  house  in  flames  ;  you  would 
have  sworn  that  all  the  elements  and  architecture  of  God 
were  angr^',  and  abhorred  the  excesses,  wickednesses,  dis- 
soluteness, and  ofiences  of  the  human  race." 

Such  were  the  presages  that  struck  the  greater  number  of 


HISTOJIY    OE    THE    CIJUSADES.  415 

the  Christians  ;  but  thinking  men  could  perceive  much  more 
certain  signs  of  the  approaching  fall  of  the  kingdom  of  Jeru- 
salem. Mossoul,  Aleppo,  and  all  the  Mussulman  cities  of 
Sp'ia  and  Mesopotamia,  had  submitted  to  the  power  of  Sala- 
din.  The  son  of  Ayoub  had  triumphed  over  the  emirs  and 
the  scattered  family  of  Noureddin.  All  the  treasures  of 
Egypt,  all  the  forces  of  Asia,  were  in  liis  hands ;  there  re- 
mained only  one  conquest  for  him  to  make,  and  fortune, 
which  had  levelled  all  obstacles  before  him,  soon  furnished 
him  with  a  pretext  and  an  opportunity  of  giving  the  last 
blow  to  the  power  of  the  Christians. 

The  truce  made  with  the  king  of  Jerusalem  was  broken 
at  the  same  time  by  both  Christians  and  Mussulmans. 
Eenaud  de  Chatillon  continued  his  incursions  upon  the 
territories  of  the  infidels,  and  only  replied  to  the  complaints 
of  Saladin  by  new  violations  of  treaties.  A  Mussulman 
army,  which  the  sultan  of  Damascus  had  sent  to  the  assist- 
ance of  the  count  of  Tripoli,  advanced  into  the  country  of 
Galilee,  whither  five  hundred  knights  of  the  Temple  and 
St.  John  hastened  to  defend  the  Christian  territory,  and 
give  battle  to  the  Saracens.  They  were  speedily  over- 
whelmed by  numbers,  and  almost  all  perished  on  the  field  of 
battle.  Old  chronicles,  whilst  celebrating  the  bravery  of 
the  Christian  knights,  relate  prodigies  which  we  have  now 
great  difficulty  in  believing.  These  indomitable  heroes, 
after  having  exhausted  their  arrows,  plucked  from  their  own 
bodies  such  as  had  pierced  tViem,  and  launched  them  back 
upon  the  enemy ;  pressed  by  fatigue  and  heat,  they  drank 
their  own  blood,  and  revived  their  strength  by  the  very 
means  which  must  weaken  it ;  at  length,  after  having  broken 
their  lances  and  swords,  they  rushed  upon  their  enemies, 
fought  body  to  body,  rolling  in  the  dust  with  the  Mussulman 
warriors,  and  died  threatening  their  conquerors.  Above  all 
the  rest,  nothing  could  equal  the  heroic  valour  of  Jacques 
de  Maille,  a  knight  of  the  Temple.  IMounted  on  a  white 
horse,  he  remained  alone  in  the  field  of  battle,  and  fought 
on,  surrounded  by  heaps  of  slain.  Although  hemmed  in  on 
all  sides,  he  refused  to  surrender.  The  horse  which  he  rode, 
worn  out  with  fatigue  and  exhausted  by  wounds,  sunk  under 
him,  and  dragged  him  Avith  him ;  but  the  intrepid  knight 
arose,  lance   in   hand,  covered  with  blood   and  dust,  and 


416  insTOiiY  or  the  ceusades. 

bristling  with  arro^^'s,  and  rushed  upon  the  ranks  of  the 
Mussulmans,  astonished  at  liis  audacity ;  at  length  he  fell, 
covered  with  wounds,  but  fightmg  to  the  last.  The  Saracens 
took  him  for  St.  George,  whom  the  Christians  believed  they 
saw  descend  from  heaven  to  join  their  battalions.  After  his 
death  the  Turkish  soldiers,  whom  an  historian  calls  the 
children  of  JBahylon  and  Sodom,  drew  near  with  signs  of 
respect  to  his  body,  slain  by  a  thousand  wounds  ;  they  wiped 
off  the  blood,  they  shared  the  rags  of  his  clothes  and  the 
fragments  of  his  arms,  and,  in  their  brutal  excitement, 
evinced  their  admiration  by  actions  that  make  modesty 
blush  when  speaking  of  them.* 

The  grand  master  of  the  Templars,  with  two  of  his 
knights,  were  all  that  escaped  from  the  carnage.  This  battle 
was  fought  on  the  1st  of  May,  1187.  In  the  season,  says 
an  ancient  chronicle,  in  which  flowers  and  roses  are  gathered 
in  the  fields,  the  Christians  of  iS^azareth  found  nothing  but 
the  traces  of  slaughter  and  the  mangled  bodies  of  their 
brethren.  They  buried  them  in  the  church  of  St.  Mary, 
repeating  these  prophetic  words :  "  Daughters  of  Galilee, 
put  on  your  garments  of  mourning ;  and  you,  daughters  of 
Sion,  iceep  over  the  ills  that  threaten  the  kings  of  Judah^^ 
The  terror  which  this  sanguinary  defeat  created  for  a 
moment  appeased  the  discords  of  the  Christians.  The  king 
consented  to  be  reconciled  to  the  count  of  Tripoli,  whilst  on 
his  part  Eaymond  resolved  to  forget  hi^,  private  injuries,  and 
to  use  every  eftbrt  to  repair  the  misforiainea  he  had  brought 
upon  the  kingdom.  He  repaired  to  Jerusalem,  where  Guy 
de  Lusignan,  coming  forth  to  meet  him,  received  him  with 
marks  of  sincere  affection.  The  two  princes  embraced 
before  the  people,  and  swore  to  fight  in  ujiison  for  the 
heritage  of  Christ. 

After  the  rupture  of  the  truce,  Saladin  employed  himself 
in  getting  together  a  formidable  army.  Turks,  Arabs, 
Curds,  and  Egyptians  flocked  to  his  standard ;  he  promised 
the  spoils  of  the  Christians  to  the  Mussulman  families  that 

*  The  Latin  history  of  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem  contains  this  curious 
passage  :  Quidam  verb,  ut  fama  ferebat,  ardentiiis  cseteris  movebatur,  et 
abscissis  viri  genitalibus,  ea  tanquam  in  usutn  gignendi  reservare  deposuitj 
ut  vel  mortua  membra,  si  fieri  posset,  virtutis  tantae  suscitarent  hseredem. 
-—See  the  Collection  of  Bongars,  p.  1151. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    CEUSADES.  417 

had  been  driven  from  Palestine ;  he  distributed  cities  and 
provinces  beforehand  to  his  faithful  emirs,  and  held  out  to 
all  his  soldiers  the  certainty  of  pillage  or  a  glorious  martyr- 
dom. The  caliph  of  Bagdad  and  all  the  imauns  of  Egypt, 
Syria,  and  Mesopotamia  put  up  prayers  for  the  triumph  of 
his  arms  and  the  deliverance  of  Jerusalem.  He  crossed  the 
Jordan,  and  advanced  into  Galilee  at  the  head  of  eighty 
thousand  horse. 

lu  a  council  held  at  Jerusalem,  Gruy  de  Lusignan,  the 
count  of  Tripoli,  and  the  barons  deliberated  upon  the  mea- 
sures most  proper  to  be  adopted  to  save  the  kingdom.  The 
kniglits  of  the  three  military  orders,  the  troops  of  the  king 
and  the  nobles,  the  garrisons  of  cities,  with  all  Christians 
able  to  bear  arms,  received  orders  to  assemble  on  the  plain 
of  Sephouri.  It  was  determined  to  employ  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  war  the  treasures  sent  by  Henry  II.,  which  were 
kept  in  the  house  of  the  Temple ;  and  to  associate  the 
English  monarch  in  the  glory  of  this  holy  expedition,  the 
arms  of  England  were  represented  on  the  standards  of  the 
Christian  army.  The  wood  of  the  true  cross,  which  had 
so  often  animated  the  Crusaders  in  fight,  was  exhibited  to 
the  people  as  a  last  means  of  safety,  and  carried  in 
triumph  to  the  place  where  the  defenders  of  Jerusalem  were 
assembled. 

An  army  of  fifty  thousand  fighting  men  had  been  collected 
on  the  plain  of  Sephouri,  when  the  leaders  learned  that 
Saladin  had  carried  the  city  of  Tiberias  by  assault,  and 
threatened  the  citadel,  in  which  were  shut  up  the  women 
and  children  of  the  count  of  Tripoli.  The  Christians  who 
had  escaped  from  the  sword  of  the  Saracens,  in  the  utmost 
terror,  took  refuge  in  the  camp  of  Sephouri,  conjuring  the 
king  and  the  chiefs  to  put  an  end  to  the  ravages  of  the 
infidels.  The  barons  assembled  in  the  tent  of  Guy,  and  all 
at  once  exclaimed  that  it  was  necessary  to  march  imme- 
diately against  the  enemy.  Raymond  then  arose  and  de- 
manded permission  to  speak.  "I  am  about,"  said  he,  "to 
lay  before  you  advice  which  will  surprise  you ;  but  I  offer  it 
with  the  greater  confidence  from  its  being  opposed  to  my 
personal  interests.  My  desolated  country,  my  cities  in 
ashes,  my  subjects  ready  to  submit  to  death  or  slavery,  my 
Avife  exposed  to  the  insults  of  the  Mussulmans  all  implore 


418  HISTOET    OF   THE    CEUSADES. 

instant  yuccour  from  me  and  you;  but  it  is  my  duty  to 
think  of  the  safety  of  the  Christian  cities  now  left  without 
gaffisons.  In  this  army  assembled  on  the  plain  of  Sephouri 
exists  the  only  hope  which  the  Christians  of  the  East  have 
left.  You  behold  here  all  the  soldiers  of  Christ,  all  the 
defenders  of  Jerusalem ;  if  they  perish,  the  infidels  have  no 
other  foes  to  dread.  Beware,  then,  of  leading  this  multitude 
of  men  and  horses  into  a  drv  and  arid  country,  where  the 
season,  with  thii'st  and  hunger,  must  soon  deliver  them  up 
without  defence  to  the  enemy.  The  number  even  of  the 
Christian  soldiers  inspires  me  with  more  alarm  than  confi- 
dence. They  present  nothing  but  a  confused  troop  of  men 
got  together  in  haste,  and  totally  unable  to  support  fatigue. 
The  Mussulman  archers  are  more  skilful  than  our  soldiers 
in  casting  javelins,  and  may  harass  us  on  our  march,  without 
our  being  able  to  defend  ourselves ;  the  cavalry  of  Saladin 
is  more  numerous  and  better  trained  than  ours,  and  may 
attack  us  with  advantage  on  the  plains,  across  which  we 
must  pass.  Abandon,  then,  I  entreat  you,  Tiberias  to  the 
Mussulmans,  and  let  us  save  an  army  which  may  yet  repair 
our  losses. 

"I  swear  before  God  and  before  man,  that  I  would  willingly 
abandon  the  county  of  Tripoli,  with  all  the  lands  I  possess, 
to  procure  the  safety  of  the  citv  of  Christ.  Our  only  aim 
must  be  to  destroy  tlie  power  of  Saladin,  and  at  the  same 
time  to  preserve  some  defenders  for  the  kingdom  of  Jeru- 
salem. If  we  go  to  meet  the  enemy  and  should  be  con- 
quered,  Grod  liimself  will  not  be  able  to  save  the  Christians, 
but  will  allow  us  to  be  delivered  up  to  the  infidels.  If,  on 
the  contrary,  the  enemy  come  to  offer  themselves  to  our 
arms,  all  our  losses  will  be  repaii'ed,  and  the  evils  that  will 
fall  upon  me,  will  become  for  me  a  source  of  gratification, 
since  I  shall  have  suffered  for  the  cause  of  Christ  and  the 
safety  of  his  people." 

The  more  generosity  there  was  in  this  advice,  the  less 
sincere  it  was  esteemed.  The  grand  master  of  the  Templars, 
blinded  by  his  hatred  for  Eavmond,  interrupted  him  several 
times ;  he  reminded  the  assembly  of  the  alliance  of  the 
count  of  Tripoli  with  Saladin,  and  exclaimed  aloud  that  he 
could  plainly  perceive  tlie  wolfs  skin  iindei'  the  fleece  of  the 
shee^,     AYhen  Eaymond  invoked  the  name  of  Christ,  the 


HISTORY   or    THE    CRUSADES.  419 

grand  master  repeated  witli  bitterness,  tliat  the  name  of 
Mahomet  was  better  fitted  to  the  mouth  of  a  traitor.  The 
eoiuit  of  Tripoli  made  not  the  least  reply  to  the  insulting 
words  of  the  grand  master,  but  finished  his  speech  by  these 
words,  uttered  with  an  accent  of  perfect  conviction  :  "  I 
ivill  suhmit  to  the  punishment  of  death  if  these  tilings  do  not 
fall  out  as  I  have  said.'' 

The  council  of  the  knights  and  barons  adopted  the  opinion 
of  liaymond ;  but  when  G  uy  was  left  alone  in  his  tent,  the 
grand  master  came  to  him,  and  infused  into  his  mind  tlie 
blackest  suspicions  of  the  conduct  and  secret  designs  of  tlie 
count  of  Tripoli.  The  feeble  Lusignan,  who  liad  already 
issued  several  contradictory  orders,  gave  the  command  for 
marching  to  meet  the  enemy.  For  the  first  time,  the  king 
of  Jerusalem  was  obeyed,  and  that  was  for  the  ruin  of  the 
Christians. 

The  undetermined  conduct  that  Lusignan  had  exhibited, 
communicated  itself  to  the  other  chiefs,  and  this  want  of  a 
fixed  purpose  spread  trouble  and  confusion  throughout  the 
arm}^  The  disheartened  soldiers  quitted  the  camp  of 
Sephouri  with  reluctance,  and  saw  nothing  around  them  but 
presages  of  an  approaching  defeat.  The  Christian  army 
advanced  towards  Tiberias,  and  were  marching  in  silence 
across  a  plain,  which  modern  travellers  call  the  plain  of 
Batouf,  when  they  perceived  the  standards  of  Saladin. 

The  Mussulman  army  was  encamped  on  the  heights  of 
Loubi,  with  the  Lake  of  Tiberias  in  its  rear ;  it  covered  the 
tops  of  the  hills,  and  commanded  ail  the  defdes  tlirough 
which  the  Christians  had  to  pass.  The  barons  and  knights 
then  remembered  the  advice  of  Eaymond,  but  they  had  lost 
the  opportunity  of  following  it,  and  the  courage  of  the 
Christian  soldiers  alone  coidd  repair  the  errors  of  their 
leaders.  The  bold  and  desperate  resolution  was  formed  of 
cutting  themselves  a  passage  through  the  army  of  the 
enemy,  so  as  to  gain  the  banks  of  the  Jordan.  On  the  4th 
of  July,  at  break  of  day,  the  Christians  began  tlieir  march. 
From  the  moment  they  were  in  motion,  the  Mussulman 
archers  unceasingly  poured  upon  them  showers  of  arrows. 
The  army  of  the  Franks  was  bravely  enduring,  on  its  march, 
the  attacks  of  the  Saracen  archers,  wlien  Saladin  descended 
into  the  plain  at  the  head  of  his  cavalry.     Then  the  Chria- 


420  HISTOET    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

tians  Tvere  compelled  to  stop,  and  fight  with  the  enemv  that 
disputed  their  passage.*  The  first  shock  was  impetuous  and 
terrible ;  but  as  the  Franks  had  for  many  days  been  short 
of  both  provisions  and  water,  and  were  oppressed  by  heat 
and  thirst,  they  had  less  strength  than  courage,  and  fell 
more  from  lassitude  than  in  consequence  of  their  wounds. 
The  bishops  passed  through  the  ranks,  and  endeavoured  to 
revive  the  ardour  of  the  soldiers  by  the  images  of  religion. 

The  true  cross,  placed  upon  an  elevated  spot,  for  a 
moment  reanimated  them,  and  drew  around  it  the  most 
fervent  and  the  most  intrepid.  Saladin  himself  said,  in  a 
letter,  that  the  Christian  soldiers  fought  around  the  cross 
with  the  gi^atest  bravery,  and  that  they  seemed  to  consider 
it  the  strongest  tie  that  bound  them  together,  and  as  their 
impenetrable  buckler. t  But  the  sight  of  a  revered  sign, 
and  the  passing  ardour  which  it  created,  only  served  to  in- 
crease the  disorder  of  the  fiijht.  All  the  Mussulman  forces 
united  in  one  body  to  attack  the  Christians,  The  cavalry  of 
8aladin  poured  down  upon  them  several  times  with  irresist- 
ible impetuosity,  and  penetrated  through  their  ranks  ;  victory 
was  evidently  about  to  incline  to  the  side  of  the  Saracens, 
when  night  put  an  end  to  the  conflict.  The  Franks  and 
the  Saracens  both  remained  on  the  plain  where  they  had 
fought  all  day,  and  prepared  to  renew  the  battle  on  the 
morrow. 

The  Saracens  were  confident  of  victory.  Saladin  went 
through  the  ranks  of  his  army,  inflaming  the  courage  of  the 
Mussulman  soldiers  by  his  presence  and  his  speeches. 
"  To-morrow,"  said  he,  "is  a  festival  for  the  true  believers, 
for  it  is  on  Friday  that  Mussulmans  otfer  up  their  prayers, 
and  that  Mahomet  listens  to  the  vows  that  are  made   to 

*  Among  the  Christian  historians  who  have  spoken  of  the  battle  of 
Tiberias,  the  following  may  be  consulted  :  Chronica  Ten'CB  Sanctts ;  the 
two  continuations  of  WiiHam  of  Tyre,  by  Harold  and  Hugh  de  Plagon  ; 
and  the  Latin  history  of  Jerusalem.  Jacques  de  Vitri,  William  de  Xew- 
bridi^e,  the  Chronicle  of  Gervais,  Paiile  Emile  Roger  de  Hoveden,  and 
Matthew  Paris  also  give  some  details  of  this  battle,  and  of  the  events  by 
vrhich  it  was  followed.  None  of  these  authors,  however,  have  described 
it  at  sufficient  length  to  give  a  complete  idea  of  it ;  they  are  not  even 
always  agreed,  and  ought  to  be  read  with  much  precaution. 

t  Saladin  adds  in  his  letter  that  the  Franks  flew  round  the  cross  like 
muths  round  light. 


HISTOET    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  421 

liim."  The  Mussulmans  replied  to  their  leader  by  the 
loudest  acclamations.  Saladin  then  placed  archers  on  the 
heights,  ordered  four  hundred  charges  of  arrows  to  be  dis- 
tributed, and  disposed  his  troops  in  such  a  manner,  that  the 
Christian  army  should  be  surrounded  from  the  very  com- 
mencement of  the  contest.  The  Christian  soldiers  took 
advantage  of  the  darkness  to  rally  and  close  in  their  ranks  ; 
but  their  powers  were  exhausted.  Sometimes  they  exhorted 
each  other  to  brave  death  ;  and  at  others,  raising  their  hands 
towards  heaven,  implored  the  All-Powerful  to  save  them. 
They  then  uttered  threats  against  the  Saracens,  ^^ho  were 
near  enough  to  hear  them  ;  but  sad  and  sinister  presenti- 
ments appeared  to  deprive  them  of  all  hopes  of  victory.  In 
order  to  conceal  their  alarms,  they  made  their  camp  resound 
during  the  whole  night  with  the  noise  of  drums  and  trumpets. 
At  last  daylight  appeared,  and  was  tlie  signal  for  the  entire 
ruin  of  the  Christian  army.  As  soon  as  the  Franks  beheld 
the  whole  of  the  forces  of  Saladin,  and  found  themselves 
surrounded  on  all  sides,  they  were  seized  with  surprise  and 
terror.  The  two  armies  remained  for  a  considerable  time 
drawn  up  in  sight  of  each  other,  Saladin  waiting  until  the 
sun  had  completely  illumined  the  horizon,  to  give  the  signal 
for  attack.  From  dawn  a  strong  wind  had  prevailed,  which 
blew  full  in  the  faces  of  the  Christians,  and  covered  them 
with  clouds  of  dust.  "When  Saladin  gave  the  fatal  word, 
the  Saracens  rushed  upon  their  enemies  from  all  sides,  utter- 
ing the  most  terrifying  cries.  To  employ  the  expressions  of 
Oriental  writers, — "  It  icas  then  that  the  sons  of  JPm^adise 
and  the  children  of  fire  foncjht  out  their  terrihle  quarrel; 
the  arrows  sounded  in  the  air  like  the  noisy  fiight  of  birds ; 
the  ivater  of  swords  (^ic),  the  Hood  of  arrows  spouted  out 
from  the  hosom  of  the  melee,  and  covered  the  earth  like  the 
ivater s  of  rain^*  The  Christians  at  first  defended  them- 
selves vahantly,  but  Saladin  having  set  fire  to  the  dry  grass 

*  The  continuator  of  Tabary  speaks  -with  much  detail  of  tliis  battle  ; 
the  author  of  the  Roudatain,  in  the  description  which  he  has  given  of  this 
day,  shows  all  the  enthusiasm  of  a  Mu^snlman.  We  find  in  these  two 
histories,  and  even  in  Omad  (the  secretary  of  Saladm),  more  words  than 
things,  more  ( 'liental  figures  than  historical  circumstances.  They  may, 
however,  be  profitably  consulted  by  comparing  their  accounts  with  those 
of  the  Latins, 


422  nisTOEY  OF  the  ceusades. 

that  coTered  the  plain,  the  flames  surrounded  their  army, 
and  scorched  the  feet  of  both  men  and  horses. 

Disorder  began  to  prevail  in  their  ranks,  but  they  fought 
bravely  still.  Swords  gleamed  through  the  flames,  and  the 
Christian  knights,  rushing  from  masses  of  smoke  and  fire, 
precipitated  themselves,  lance  in  hand,  upon  their  enemies. 
In  their  despair,  they  endeavoured  to  pierce  through  the 
battalions  of  the  Saracens,  but  ever^-where  met  ^^'ith  an  in- 
vincible resistance.  Again  and  again  they  retiu-ned  to  the 
charge,  and  as  often  were  they  repulsed.  A  prey  to  hunger 
and  a  consuming  thirst,  they  saw  nothing  around  them  but 
burning  rocks  and  the  sparkling  swords  of  their  enemies. 
The  mountain  of  Ettin  arose  on  their  left,  and  in  it  they 
endeavoured  to  find  an  asylum ;  but,  hotly  pursued  by  the 
Saracens,  they  were  cast,  some  down  precipices,  and  others 
into  narrow  ra\-ines,  where  their  bravery  was  of  no  avail. 

The  knights  of  the  Temple  and  St.  John  performed  pro- 
digies of  valour,  and  fought  imtil  the  close  of  dav,  rallvinfr 
round  the  wood  of  the  true  cross.  This  sacred  standard  was 
borne  by  the  bishop  of  Ptolemais,  M'ho  was  killed  in  the  heat 
of  the  battle.  The  bishop  of  Lidda,  who  took  it  up  and  en- 
deavoured to  fly,  was  stopped,  and  taken  prisoner.  A  cry 
of  despair  arose  from  among  the  Franlis  when  they  saw  the 
sign  of  their  safety  in  the  hands  of  the  conqueror ;  even  the 
most  brave  cast  away  their  arms,  and  without  attempting  to 
fly,  rushed  upon  the  swords  of  the  infidels.  The  field  of 
battle  became  nothing  but  a  scene  of  desolation;  and  the 
Christian  warriors  who  had  not  been  able  to  save  the  cross 
of  Christ,  no  longer  feared  either  death  or  slavery.  The 
king  of  Jerusalem  was  made  prisoner  with  his  brother 
Geoftrey,  the  grand  master  of  the  Templars,  Eenaud  de 
Chatillon,  and  all  the  most  illustrious  knights  of  Palestine. 
Ea^-mond,  who  commanded  the  vanguard  of  the  Christian 
army,  after  ha^-ing  fought  valiantly,  opened  for  himself  a 
passage  through  the  Saracens,  and  fled  to  Tripoli,*  where,  a 

*  Many  Christian  historians  accuse  Raymond  of  having  assisted  the 
cause  of  Saladin.  No  Mussulman  historian  is  of  this  opinion  ;  indeed 
several  of  them  speak  of  him  as  the  most  cruel  enemy  of  the  Saracens. 
The  continuator  of  Tabary  positively  says  that  the  count  of  Tripoli  was 
opposed  to  the  marching  of  the  Franks  towards  Tiberias.  M.  Marin,  in 
his  History  of  Saladin,  has  discussed  this  point  of  history,  and  the  proofs 


histohy  or  the  crusades.  423 

sliorfc  time  afterwards,  lie  died  of  despair,  accused  by  the 
Mussulmaus  of  having  violated  treaties,  and  by  the  Chris- 
tians of  having  betrayed  both  his  religion  and  his  country. 
Bohemond,  prince  of  Antioch,  Henaud  of  Sidon,  the  young 
count  of  Tiberias,  and  a  small  number  of  soldiers  accom- 
panied [Raymond  in  his  flight,  and  were  the  only  persons 
that  escaped  after  this  day,  so  fatal  to  the  kingdom  of 
Jerusalem. 

The  Oriental  historians  whilst  describing  the  victory  of  the 
Saracens,  have  celebrated  the  bravery  and  firmness  of  the 
Frank  knights,  covered  with  their  cuirasses,  made  with  rings 
of  steel.  These  brave  warriors  at  first  presented  an  impe- 
netrable wall  to  the  strokes  of  the  Saracens  ;  but  when  their 
horses  sunk,  exhausted  by  fatigue,  or  wounded  by  lances  or 
javelins,  Saladin  met  with  very  little  more  resistance,  and  the 
battle  became  a  horrible  carnage.  An  Arabian  author,  a 
secretary  and  companion  of  Saladin,  who  was  present  at  this 
terrible  conflict,  has  not  been  able  to  refrain  from  pitying 
the  disasters  of  the  vanquished.  "  I  saw,"  says  he,  "  the 
hills,  the  plains,  the  valleys  covered  with  their  dead  bodies  ; 
I  saw  their  colours  abandoned  and  soiled  with  blood  and 
dust ;  I  saw  their  heads  struck  off*,  their  members  dispersed 
and  their  carcasses  piled  up  Hke  stones."  After  the 
battle,  the  cords  of  the  tents  were  not  sufficient  to  bind 
the  prisoners  ;  the  Saracen  soldiers  drove  them  in  crowds, 
like  vile  herds  of  cattle.  The  conquerors  divided  the  cap- 
tives amongst  them,  and  the  number  was  so  great,  that,  ac- 
cording to  an  historian,  a  pair  of  shoes  was  exchanged  for 
a  Christian  knight. 

that  he  gives  leave  no  doubt  respecting  the  sincerity  of  the  intentions  of 
Raymond.  Abulfeda,  in  the  short  description  which  he  gives  of  the  day 
of  Hetin,  praises  the  valour  of  Raymond,  and  says  that  he  died  of  the 
grief  created  by  the  defeat  of  the  Christians.  In  a  letter  written  in  the 
name  of  Saladin  by  the  Cadi  Alfdel  to  the  Iman  Nassir-Sedin-Illah- 
Aboul-Abbas-Ahmed,  are  these  remarkable  words:  "Not  one  of  the 
Christians  was  able  to  escape  except  the  count  of  Tripoli.  May  God  curse 
him ;  God  caused  him  afterwards  to  die,  and  sent  him  from  the  kingdom 
of  death  to  hell."  This  letter  of  Saladin's,  which  speaks  also  of  the 
taking  of  Jerusalem,  has  been  preserved  by  Ebu-Khilcan  in  his  Biography. 
M.  Jourdain  had  the  intention  of  giving  a  translation  of  it ;  but  the  text 
presents  so  many  difficulties,  from  the  use  of  Oriental  figures  and  bad 
copying,  that  he  was  obliged  to  be  satisfied  with  making  some  extracts 
from  it. 


424  HISTORY  or  the  ceusades. 

Saladin  caused  a  tent  to  be  erected  in  his  camp,  in  wliicli 
he  received  Gruy  de  Lusignan,  and  the  principal  leaders  of 
the  Christian  annv,  whom  -v-ictoiy  had  placed  in  his  hands. 
He  treated  the  king  of  the  Franks  with  kindness,  and  ordered 
him  to  be  serA-ed  with  a  drink  cooled  in  snow.     As  the  king, 
after  having  dinink,  presented  the  cup  to  Eenaud  de  Cha- 
tnion,  who  was  next  to  him,  the  sultan  stopped  him,  and 
said.  ''  That  traitor  shall  not  drink  in  my  presence,  for  I  will 
show  him  no  favour."     Then  addressing  himself  to  Eenaud, 
he  made  him  the  most  severe  reproaches  for  his  violation  of 
treaties,  and  threatened  him  with  death  if  he  did  not  em- 
brace the  rehgion  of  the  prophet  he  had  insulted.     Eenaud 
de  Chatillon  replied  with  noble  fii-mness,  and  braved  the 
menaces  of  Saladin,  who  struck  him  with  his  sabre.     Some 
Mussulman  soldiers,   at  the   signal  of  their  master,  threw 
themselves  upon  the  disarmed  prisoner,  and  the  head  of  a 
maitvr  of  the  cross  fell  at  the  feet  of  the  king  of  Jerusalem. 
On  the  following  day  the  sultan  ordered  the  knights  of 
the  Temple  and  St.  John,  who  were  among  the  prisoners,  to 
be  brought  before  him  :  and,  as  they  were  led  past  his  throne, 
said,  "  I  wiU  deUver  the  earth  of  these  two  unclean  races." 
The  grand  master  of  the  Templars  found  favoiu*  before  him, 
doubtless  because  his  imprudent  counsels  had  given  up  the 
Christian   army  to  the  swords  of  the  Saracens.     A  great 
number  of  emirs   and  doctors  of  the  law  sun-ounded  the 
throne  of  Saladin,  and  the  sultan  permitted  each  of  them  to 
slav  a  Christian  knight.     Some  of  them  refused  to  shed 
blo'od,  and  turned  their  eyes  away  from  so  odious  a  specta- 
cle ;  but  others,  arming  themselves  with  swords,  massacred 
kniahts  bcund  with  fetters,  without  pity,  whilst  Saladin  sat 
on   his   throne,    applauding   the   horrible   execution.     The 
knights  received  the  palm  of'  martyrdom  with  joy ;  most  of 
the  prisoners  were  anxious   for   death ;  and  many   among 
them,  although  not  beloniring:  to  the  military-  orders,  cried 
aloud  that  they  were  Hospitallers  or  Templars,  and,  as  if  they 
feared  thev  should  want  executioners,  pressed  before  each 
other,  in  order  to  secure  the  fatal  stroke  from  the  hands  of 
the  infidels. 

Saladin  disor&ced  his  Wctorv  bv  this  barbarity- ;  the  fear 
with  which  the  Christians  inspired  him,  even  after  defeat, 
made  him  cruel.     He  became  more  Inunane  and  generou.=3 


HISTOET    or   THE    CRUSADES.  425 

when  lie  felt  more  assured  of  his  victory  and  confident  of  his 
power.  Two  days  were  devoted  by  the  Mussulmans  to  re- 
turning thanks  to  Heaven  for  the  victory  with  which  it  had 
blessed  their  arms  ;  and  then  Saladin  gave  his  attention  to  all 
the  advantages  that  might  be  obtained  from  it.  As  soon  as 
he  became  master  of  the  citadel  of  Tiberias,  he  sent  the  wife 
of  Raymond  to  Tripoli ;  and  was,  with  his  army,  very  shortly 
under  the  ramparts  of  Ptolemais.  This  city,  full  of  mer- 
chants, and  which,  at  a  later  period,  sustained  the  attacks  of 
the  most  powerful  armies  of  the  Yf  est,  during  three  years, 
did  not  stand  out  two  days  against  Saladin.  The  inhabitants 
had  liberty  to  retire  with  their  most  valuable  property ;  and 
the  churches  were  converted  into  mosques,  in  which  thanks 
were  offered  up  to  I\Laliomet  for  the  triumphs  obtained  over 
the  Christian  soldiers. 

The  terror  which  preceded  his  arm}'  opened  to  Saladin  t  e 
gates  of  Naplouse,  Jericho,  Eamla,  and  a  great  number  of 
other  cities  which  were  left  almost  without  inhabitants.  The 
cities  of  Csesarea,  Arsuf,  Jaffa,  and  Berouth  shared  the  fate 
of  Ptolemais ;  the  yeUow  standards  of  Saladin  floated  over 
their  walls.  On  the  sea-coast,  the  cities  of  Tyre,  Tripoli, 
and  Ascalon  still  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Christians. 
Saladin  attacked  Tyre  without  success,  and  determined  to 
wait  for  a  more  favourable  opportunity  to  renew  the  siege. 
Ascalon  presented  itself  to  him  as  a  conquest  of  much  greater 
importance,  as  it  would  assure  his  communication  with 
Egypt.  This  city  was  besieged  by  the  Mussulmans,  but  it 
resisted,  at  first,  with  more  firmness  than  Saladin  had  ex- 
pected. AYhen  a  breach  was  effected,  the  sultan  proposed 
peace ;  but  the  inhabitants,  with  whom  despair  supplied  the 
place  of  courage,  sent  back  his  messengers  without  granting 
them  a  hearing.  The  king  of  Jerusalem,  whom  Saladin  led 
with  him  in  triumph,  then  entreated  the  defenders  of  Asca- 
lon not  to  compromise  the  safety  of  their  families  and  the 
Cliristians  of  the  city  by  a  useless  defence.  After  this 
appeal,  the  principal  among  them  came  to  the  tent  of  the 
sultan:  "It  is  not  for  ourselves,"  said  they,  " that  we  are 
coriie  to  implore  mercy,  but  for  our  wives  and  children.  Of 
what  importance  is  a  perishable  life  to  us  r  AVe  look  for  a 
more  solid  blessing,  and  that  death  alone  can  procure  us. 
Q-od  alone,  th'e  master  of  all  events,  has  allowed  you  to 


42G  UISTORY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

obtain  ^•ictones  over  the  unhappy  Christians ;  but  you  shall 
not  enter  into  Ascalon  unless  you  take  pity  on  our  families, 
and  promise  to  restore  the  king  of  Jerusalem  to  liberty." 

Saladin,  touched  by  the  heroism  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Ascalon,  accepted  the  conditions  proposed.  Such  devoted- 
ness  merited  the  redemption  of  a  prince  of  nobler  character 
and  more  worthy  of  the  love  of  his  subjects  than  Gruy  de 
Lusignan.  Saladin  consented  to  liberate  the  captive  monarch 
at  the  expiration  of  a  year. 

The  moment  was  now  come  in  which  Jerusalem  was  again 
fated  to  fall  into  the  power  of  the  infidels ;  and  all  Mus- 
sulmans earnestly  implored  Mahomet  for  this  crowning 
triumph  for  the  arms  of  Saladin.  After  having  taken  Gaza, 
and  several  fortresses  in  the  neighbourhood,  the  sultan  drew 
his  army  together  and  marched  towards  the  holy  city.  A 
queen  in  tears,  the  children  of  the  wan-iors  slain  at  the 
battle  of  Tiberias,  a  few  fugitive  soldiers,  and  some  pilgrims 
recently  arrived  from  the  West  were  the  only  guardians  of 
the  Holy  Sepulchre.  A  gi'eat  number  of  Christian  families 
which  had  left  the  devastated  proAinces  of  Palestine,  filled 
the  capital,  and,  very  far  from  bringing  it  any  assistance, 
only  served  to  increase  the  general  trouble  and  conster- 
nation. 

AVhen  Saladin  drew  near  to  the  holv  city,  he  caused  the 
principal  inhabitants  to  be  sent  for,  and  said  to  them :  "  I 
acknowledge,  as  well  as  you,  that  Jerusalem  is  the  house  of 
God  ;  I  do  not  wish  to  profane  its  sanctity  by  the  effusion 
of  blood :  abandon  its  walls  and  I  will  bestow  upon  you  a 
part  of  my  treasm-es  ;  I  will  give  you  as  much  land  as  you 
win  be  able  to  cultivate."  "'\\'e  cannot,"  they  replied, 
"  yield  the  city  in  which  our  God  died ;  still  less  can  we  give 
it  up  to  you."  Saladin,  enraged  by  their  refusal,  swore  upon 
the  Koran  to  lay  prostrate  the  towers  and  ramparts  of 
Jerusalem,  and  to  avenge  the  death  of  the  ^Mussulmans 
slaughtered  by  the  companions  and  soldiers  of  Godfrey  of 
Bouillon. 

At  the  moment  in  which  Saladin  was  speaking  to  the 
deputies,  an  eclipse  of  the  sun  all  at  once  left  the  heavens 
in  utter  darkness,  and  appeared  to  be  a  presage  fatal  for  the 
Christians.  iSTevertheless,  the  inhabitants,  encouraged  by 
the  clerg}',  prepared  to  defend  the  city,  and  chose  as  their 


HISTORY   OF   THE    CEUSADES.  427 

commander  Ealeau  d'  Ibelin,  who  laad  been  present  at  the 
battle  of  Tiberias.  This  old  warrior,  whose  experience  and 
virtues  inspired  confidence  and  respect,  immediately  set 
about  repairing  the  fortifications,  and  training  the  new  de- 
fenders of  Jerusalem.  As  he  was  deficient  in  officers,  he 
created  fifty  knights  froui  amongst  the  citizens  ;  and  all  the 
Christians  able  to  bear  arms,  placed  themselves  under  his 
command,  and  swore  to  shed  their  blood  in  the  cause  of 
Christ.  They  had  no  money  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the 
war,  but  all  means  of  obtaining  it  seemed  legitimate  in  a 
danger  that  threatened  the  city  of  God.  They  despoiled 
the  churches,  and  the  people,  terrified  at  the  approach  of 
Saladin,  beheld,  without  scandal,  the  precious  metal  which 
covered  the  chapel  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  converted  into 
coin.* 

The  standards  of  Saladin  were  soon  seen  floating  over  the 
heights  of  Emails,  and  the  Mussulman  army  encamped  on 
the  same  places  on  which  Godfrey,  Tancred,  and  the  two 
Roberts  had  pitched  their  tents  when  they  besieged  the  holy 
city.  The  besieged  at  first  resisted  boldly,  and  made  fre- 
quent sorties,  in  which  they  bore  in  one  hand  a  lance  or  a 
sword,  and  in  the  other  a  shovel  filled  with  dust,  which  they 
cast  upon  the  Saracens.  A  great  number  of  Christians  re- 
ceived the  palm  of  martyrdom,  and  ascended,  say  the  his- 
torians, to  the  heavenly  Jerusalem — many  Mussulmans  fell 
beneath  the  swords  of  their  enemies,  and  went  to  dwell  on 
the  hanhs  of  the  river  ivJiicJi  waters  Paradise. 

Saladin,  after  being  encamped  for  several  days  on  the 
western  side  of  the  city,  directed  his  operations  towards  the 
north,  and  caused  the  ramparts  which  extended  from  the 
gate  of  Jehoshaphat  to  that  of  St.  Stephen  to  be  undermined. 
The  bravest  of  the  citizens  made  a  sortie,  and  endeavoui'ed 
to  destroy  the  machines  and  works  of  the  besiegers,  en- 
couraging each  other  by  repeating  these  words  of  Scripture : 

*  For  the  siege  of  Jerusalem  we  may  consult  the  continuator  of 
Tabary,  the  author  of  the  Roudalains,  and  the  letter  from  Saladin  before 
mentioned.  All  the  Arabian  historians  are  agreed  as  to  the  principal 
circumstances.  Moujireddin,  in  his  History  of  Jerusalem,  of  all  the 
Arabian  writers  of  this  period,  gives  the  fewest  particulars  of  the  siege  and 
capture  of  the  holy  city.  We  need  not  repeat  that  the  greater  part  of 
these  historians  are  known  to  us  by  the  Latin  extracts  of  Dom.  Bertreau. 

Vol.  I.— 20 


428  HJSTOEY   OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

"^  single  one  of  us  shall  make  ten  inJideJs  fiy^  and  ten  of  us 
sliall  put  to  flight  ten  thousand'^  They  performed  prodigies 
of  valour,  but  they  could  not  interrupt  the  progress  of  the 
siege.  Ivepulsedby  the  Saracens,  they  were  forced  to  return 
to  the  citv,  whither  their  appearance  brought  terror  and 
discouragement.  The  towers  and  ramparts  appeared  ready 
to  fall  at  the  first  signal  for  a  general  assault.  Despair  then 
took  entire  possession  of  the  inhabitants,  who  saw  no  means 
of  defence  \vithin  their  power  but  tears  and  prayers.  The 
soldiers  crowded  to  the  churches  instead  of  flying  to  arms ; 
and  not  even  the  promise  of  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold  could 
keep  them  on  the  tottering  ramparts  for  one  night.  The 
clergy  made  processions  through  the  streets,  to  invoke  the 
protection  of  Heaven.  Some  struck  their  breasts  with  stones, 
whilst  others  tore  their  bodies  with  hair-cloth,  cryiug  aloud 
for  mercy !  2s  othing  was  heard  in  Jerusalem  but  sobs  and 
groans;  '''hut  our  Jesus  Christ j'^  says  an  old  chronicle, 
"  would  not  hear  them,  for  the  luxury  and  impurity  that  icere 
in  the  city  v:ould  not  allow  either  orisons  or  prayers  to 
ascend  before  him.''  The  despair  of  the  inhabitants  inspired 
them  with  the  most  contradictoiy  projects  at  the  same  time; 
at  one  moment  thev  formed  the  resolution  of  issuins:  in  a 
body  from  the  city,  and  seeking  a  glorious  death  in  the 
ranks  of  tlie  infidels  ;  whilst,  the  next,  they  placed  their 
last  hope  in  the  clemency  of  Saladin. 

Amid  the  general  trouble  and  agitation,  the  Greek  and 
S}Tian  Christians,  with  the  Melachite  Christians,  endured 
verv  unwillino:lv  the  authoritv  of  the  Latins,  and  accused 
them  of  aU  the  misfortunes  of  the  war.  A  plot  for  giving 
up  the  city  to  the  Mussulmans  was  discovered,  which  re- 
doubled the  general  alarm,  and  made  the  principal  inhabi- 
tants determine  upon  demanding  a  capitulation  of  Saladin. 
Accompanied  by  Baleau  d'Ibelin,  they  went  and  proposed 
to  the  sultan  to  give  up  the  place  to  him  upon  the  con- 
ditions he  had  himself  proposed  before  the  siege.  But 
Saladin  remembered  that  he  had  sworn  to  take  the  citv  by 
assault,  and  put  the  inhabitants  to  the  sword ;  and  he  sent 
back  the  deputies  without  giving  them  the  least  hope. 
Baleau  d'Ibelin  retiurned  several  times,  renewing  his  sup- 
plications and  his  prayers,  but  always  found  Saladin  inexo- 
rable.   One  day,  whilst  the  Christian  deputies  were  earnestly 


HISTOET    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  429 

imploring  him  to  accept  their  capitulation,  turning  towards 
the  place,  and  pointing  to  his  standards  which  floated  over 
the  walls, — "How  can  you  ask  me,"  said  he,  "to  grant  con- 
ditions to  a  city  Avhich  is  already  taken  ?  " 

Nevertheless,  the  Saracens  were  repulsed  ;  and  Baleau, 
reanimated  by  the  success  the  Christians  had  obtained, 
replied  to  the  sidtan :  "  You  see  that  Jerusalem  is  not 
without  defenders  ;  if  we  can  obtain  no  mercy  from  you,  we 
will  form  a  terrible  resolution,  and  the  fruits  of  our  despair 
shall  All  you  Avith  terror.  These  temples  and  palaces  that 
you  are  so  anxious  to  conquer,  shall  be  totally  destroyed  ;  all 
the  riches  which  excite  the  ambition  and  cupidity  of  the 
Saracens,  shall  become  the  prey  of  the  flames.  We  will 
destroy  the  mosque  of  Omar ;  and  the  mysterious  stone  of 
Jacob,  which  is  the  object  of  your  worship,  shall  be  broken 
and  pounded  into  dust.  Jerusalem  contains  five  thousand 
Mussulman  prisoners  ;  they  shall  all  perish  by  the  sword. 
We  will,  with  our  own  hands,  slay  our  wives  and  children, 
and  thus  spare  them  the  shame  of  becoming  your  slaves. 
When  the  holy  city  shall  be  but  a  heap  of  ruins — one  vast 
tomb — we  will  march  out  of  it,  followed  by  the  angTy  manes 
of  our  friends  and  kindred ;  we  will  march  out  armed  with 
sword  and  fire  ;  and  no  one  of  us  will  ascend  to  Paradise 
without  having  consigned  ten  Mussulmans  to  hell.  We 
shall  thus  obtain  a  glorious  death,  and  shall  die  calling  down 
upon  your  head  the  maledictions  of  the  Grod  of  Jerusalem." 

This  spirited  speech  alarmed  Saladin,  and  he  invited  the 
deputies  to  come  again  on  the  following  day.  He  consulted 
with  the  doctors  of  the  law,  who  decided  that  he  might 
accept  the  capitulation  proposed  by  the  besieged,  without 
violating  his  oath.  The  conditions  were  signed  on  the 
following  day  in  the  tent  of  the  sultan,  and  thus  Jerusalem 
again  fell  into  the  power  of  the  infidels,  after  having  been 
eighty-eight  years  under  the  domination  of  the  Christians, 
The  Latin  historians- had  remarked  that  the  Crusaders  entered 
the  city  on  a  Friday,  and  at  the  same  hour  that  Christ  had 
submitted  to  death  to  expiate  the  crimes  of  the  human  race. 
The  Saracens  retook  the  city  on  a  Friday,  the  anniversary  of 
the  day  on  which,  according  to  their  creed,  Mahomet  set  out 
from  Jerusalem  to  ascend  into  heaven.  This  circumstance, 
which  might  influence  Saladin  in  his  agreement  to  sign  the 


430  HISTORY    OF    THE    CErSADES. 

capitulation,  did  not  f\iil  to  add  a  new  splendour  to  his 
triumph  with  the  Mussulmans,  and  caused  him  to  be  regarded 
as  the  favourite  of  the  Prophet. 

All  the  warriors  who  were  in  Jerusalem  when  the  capitula- 
tion was  signed,  obtained  permission  to  retire  to  Tvre  or 
Tripoh.  The  conqueror  granted  life  to  the  inhabitants,  and 
allowed  them  to  purchase  then'  liberty.  All  Christians,  with 
the  exception  of  the  Greeks  and  Syrians,  received  orders  to 
quit  Jerusalem  at  the  expu-ation  of  four  days.  The  rate  of 
ransom  was  fixed  at  ten  pieces  of  gold  for  the  men,  five  for 
the  women,  and  two  for  the  chddren.  Such  as  could  not 
purcliase  their  liberty,  remained  in  slavery. 

These  conditions  had  at  first  been  received  "with  joy  by 
the  Christians ;  but  when  they  saw  the  day  approach  on 
which  they  were  to  leave  Jerusalem,  they  experienced  nothing 
but  the  most  bitter  grief  at  quittins:  the  holy  places.  They 
watered  the  tomb  of  Christ  with  their  tears,  and  regretted 
that  thev  had  not  died  to  defend  it :  thev  visited  Calvary 
and  the  churches  they  were  never  to  see  again,  amidst  groans 
and  sighs  ;  they  embraced  each  other  in  the  streets,  weeping 
and  lamenting  over  their  fatal  dissensions.  Such  as  were 
unable  to  pay  their  ransom,  and  would  only  quit  Jerusalem 
to  become  shives  to  the  Saracens,  gave  themselves  up  to  all 
the  excesses  of  despair.  But  such,  in.  these  deplorable 
moments,  was  their  attachment  to  the  religion  whose  pre- 
cepts they  had  not  always  followed,  that  the  insults  offered 
to  the  sacred  objects  of  their  worship,  afflicted  them  more 
than  their  own  misfortunes. 

At  lenofth  the  fatal  dav*  arrived  on  which  the  Christians 
were  to  quit  Jerusalem.  All  the  gates  were  shut  except 
that  of  David,  by  which  the  people  were  to  go  out.  Saladin, 
seated  on  an  elevated  throne,  saw  all  the  Chi-istians  pass 
before  him.  The  patriarch,  followed  by  the  clergy,  appeared 
the  first,  carrving  the  sacred  vases,  the  ornaments  of  the 


*  Most  historians  say  that  Saladin  granted  a  delay  of  forty  days  to 
the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem.  In  the  position  that  matters  were  in, 
Saladin  could  not  remain  forty  days  before  a  captured  city ;  and  what 
proves  that  historians  are  mistaken  in  this  respect  is,  that  they  themselves 
say  that  Saladin  took  Jerusalem  in  the  beginning  of  October,  and  that  he 
set  out  on  the  day  of  AH  Saints,  which  is  always  the  first  of  November, 
from  Ptolemais  to  go  to  the  siege  of  the  city  of  Tyre. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  431 

cliurcli  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  and  treasures,  of  which  God 
alone,  says  an  Arabian  author,  knew  the  value.  The  queen 
of  Jerusalem,  accompanied*  by  the  barons  and  knights, 
came  next.  Saladin  respected  her  grief,  and  addressed  some 
words  of  kindness  to  her.  The  queen  was  follo^A"ed  by  a 
great  number  of  women,  bearing  their  children  in  their  arms, 
and  uttering  the  most  piercing  cries.  Many  of  them  drew 
near  to  the  throne  of  Saladin,  and  said  to  him :  "  You  see 
at  your  feet  the  wives,  the  mothers,  the  daughters  of  the 
warriors  you  detain  prisoners  ;  we  leave  for  ever  our  country 
which  they  have  defended  with  glory;  they  helped  to  support 
our  lives  ;  in  losing  them,  we  have  lost  our  last  hope  ;  if  you 
deign  to  restore  them  to  us,  they  will  lessen  the  miseries  of 
our  exile,  and  we  shall  be  no  longer  without  help  upon  earth." 
Saladin  was  touched  with  their  prayers,  and  promised  to 
sofceii  the  misfortunes  of  so  many  bereaved  families.  He 
restored  the  children  to  their  mothers,  and  the  husbands  to 
their  wives,  who  were  amongst  the  unredeemed  captives. 
Several  Christians  had  abandoned  their  most  valuable  goods, 
and  bore  upon  their  shoulders,  some  their  parents  weakened 
by  age,  and  others  their  infirm  or  sick  friends.  Saladin  was 
affected  by  this  spectacle,  and  rewarded  with  gifts  the  virtue 
and  piety  of  his  enemies ;  he  took  pity  upon  all  distresses, 
and  allowed  the  Hospitallers  to  remain  in  the  city  to  tend 
pilgrims,  and  assist  such  as  were  prevented  from  leaving 
Jerusalem  by  serious  illness. 

When  the  Saracens  began  the  siege,  the  holy  city  con- 
tained more  than  a  hundred  thousand  Christians.  The 
greater  part  of  them  were  able  to  purchase  their  own. 
liberty;  and  Baleau  d'Ibelin,  who  was  the  depositary  of  the 
treasures  destined  for  the  defence  of  the  city,  employed 
them  in  procuring  the  freedom  of  part  of  the  inhabitants. 
Malec  Adel,  brother  of  the  sultan,  paid  the  ransom  of  two 
thousand  captives.  Saladin  followed  his  example,  by  break- 
ing the  chains  of  a  great  number  of  poor   and  orphans. 

*  Marin  and  most  historians  say  that  Sibylla  was  not  at  Jerusalem 
during  the  siege  :  they  are  in  error.  The  author  of  the  Roudatains  says 
positively  that  that  princess  came  out  of  Jerusalem  with  the  other  captives, 
followed  by  her  treasures  and  her  attendants.  She  asked  permission  of 
Sidadin  to  rejoin  her  husband,  who  was  then  detained  a  prisoner  at 
Naplouse 


432  nisTORT  OF  the  ceusades. 

There  only  remained  in  bondage  about  fourteen  thousand 
Christians,  amongst  ^Yhom  there  were  four  or  five  thousand 
children  of  tender  age,  who  Avere  insensible  of  their  mis- 
fortunes, but  whose  fate  the  Christians  the  more  deplored, 
from  the  certainty  that  these  innocent  victims  of  war  would 
be  brought  up  in  the  idolatry  of  jMahomet. 

Many  modern  writers  have  compared  the  generous  con- 
duct of  Saladin  with  the  revolting  scenes  which  accompanied 
the  entrance  of  the  first  Crusaders  into  Jerusalem  ;  but  we 
must  not  forget  that  the  Christians  offered  to  capitulate, 
whilst  the  Mussulmans  sustained  a  long  siege  with  fanatical 
obstinacy ;  and  that  the  companions  of  Grodfrey,  who  were 
in  an  unknown  land,  in  the  midst  of  hostile  nations,  carried 
the  city  by  assault,  after  bra\TJig  numberless  perils,  and 
suffering  all  kinds  of  miseries.  But  we  beg  to  observe  that 
we  do  not  make  this  observation  to  justify  the  Christians, 
or  to  weaken  the  praises  history  owes  to  Saladin,  and  which 
he  even  obtained  from  the  people  he  had  conquered. 

After  having  done  honoiu*  to  misfortune  and  consoled 
humanity,  Saladin  gave  his  attention  to  his  triumph.  He 
entered  Jerusalem  preceded  by  his  victorious  standards.  A 
great  number  of  imauns,  doctors  of  the  law,  and  the  ambas- 
sadors of  many  Mussidman  princes,  formed  his  train.  By 
his  orders  all  the  churches,  except  that  of  the  Holy  Sepidchre, 
were  converted  into  mosques.  The  sultan  caused  the  walls 
and  the  vestibule  of  the  mosque  of  Omar  to  be  wasliedwith 
rose-water,  brought  from  Damascus,  and  with  his  own  hands 
placed  in  it  the  pulpit  constructed  by  Noureddin.  On  the 
first  Fridav  which  followed  his  entrance  into  Jerusalem,  the 
people  and  the  army  assembled  in  the  principal  mosque,  and 
the  chief  of  the  imauns,  ascending  the  pulpit  of  the  Prophet, 
returned  thanks  to  God  for  the  victories  of  Saladin.  "  Glory 
to  God,"  said  he,  "who  has  caused  Islamism  to  triumph, 
and  who  has  broken  the  power  of  the  infidels.  Praise  with 
me  the  Lord,  Avho  has  restored  to  us  Jerusalem,  the  dwelling 
of  God,  the  abode  of  saints  and  prophets  ;  it  was  from  the 
bosom  of  this  sacred  dwelling  that  God  caused  his  servant 
to  travel  during  the  darkness  of  night ;  it  was  to  facilitate 
the  conquest  of  Jerusalem  by  Joshua  that  God  formerly 
arrested  the  course  of  the  sun ;  and  it  is  in  this  city,  at  the 
end  of  time,  will  assem^ble  all  the  prophets  of  the  earth." 


HISTOET    OP    THE    CRUSADES.  433 

After  having  recapitulated  tlie  wonders  and  miracles  of 
Jerusalem,  the  preacher  of  Islamism  addressed  himself  to 
the  soldiers  of  Saladin,  and  congratulated  them  with  having 
braved  so  many  perils,  and  having  shed  their  blood  to 
accomplish  the  will  of  Mahomet.  "  The  soldiers  of  the 
prophet,"  added  he,  "  the  companions  of  Omar  and  Abou- 
beker,  have  appointed  you  places  in  their  holy  bands,  and 
expect  you  amongst  the  elect  of  Islamism.  AVitnesses  of 
your  last  triumph,  the  angels  on  the  right  hand  of  the 
Eternal  have  rejoiced ;  the  hearts  of  the  messengers  of  God 
have  leaped  with  jo}'.  Praise,  then,  with  me  the  Lord ;  but 
yield  not  to  the  weaknesses  of  pride,  and  do  not,  above 
everything,  believe  that  it  was  your  swords  of  steel,  with 
your  horses,  rapid  as  the  wind,  that  have  triumphed  over 
the  infidels.  God  is  God;  God  alone  is  powerfid ;  God 
alone  has  given  you  the  victory ;  he  orders  you  not  to  stop 
in  a  glorious  career  in  which  he  himself  leads  you  by  the 
hand.  The  lioh/  war  !  the  holy  war  !  that  is  the  most  pure 
of  your  adorations,  tlie  most  noble  of  your  duties.  Cut 
down  all  the  branches  of  impiety  ;  cause  Islamism  to  triumph 
everywhere ;  deliver  the  earth  of  the  nations  against  which 
God  is  angry." 

The  chief  of  tlie  imauus  then  prayed  for  the  caliph  of 
Bagdad,  and  terminated  his  prayer  by  naming  Saladin.  "  O 
God  ! "  cried  he,  "  watch  over  the  days  of  thy  faithfid  servant, 
who  is  thy  sharp  sword,  thy  resplendent  star,  the  defender 
of  thy  worship,  the  liberator  of  thy  sacred  dwelling.  O  God  ! 
let  thy  angels  surround  liis  empire,  and  prolong  his  days  for 
the  glory  of  thy  name !" 

Thus  Jerusalem  had  changed  its  worship  on  changing  its 
masters.  Whilst  the  holy  places  resounded  with  the  sacri- 
legious praises  of  the  prophet,  the  Christians  departed  sadly, 
plunged  in  profound  grief,  and  detesting  the  life  which  the 
Saracens  had  spared.  Hepulsed  by  their  brethren  of  the 
East,  who  accused  them  of  having  given  up  the  tomb  of 
their  God  to  the  infidels,  they  wandered  about  SjTia,  without 
assistance  and  without  asylum ;  many  died  of  grief  and 
hunger ;  the  city  of  Tripoli  shut  its  gates  against  them. 
Among  this  distracted  multitude,  one  woman,  urged  by 
despair,  cast  her  infant  into  the  sea,  cursing  the  Christians 
who  refused  them  succour.     They  who  directed  their  course 


43i  insTOKT  or  the  ceusades. 

to  Egypt  were  less  unfortunate,  and  touched  the  hearts  of 
the  Mussulmans  ;  many  embarked  for  Europe,  whither  they 
came  to  announce,  with  lamentations,  that  Jerusalem  was  in 
the  hands  of  Saladin. 

The  loss  of  the  holy  city  was  generally  attributed  to  the 
crimes  of  its  inhabitants.  Such  was  the  policy  of  those 
times,  that  it  explained  everything  by  the  corruption  or  the 
sanctity  of  the  Christians ;  as  if  crime  had  not  its  moments 
of  good  fortune,  and  ^-irtue  its  days  of  calamity.  There  is 
no  doubt  that  the  corruption  of  manners  had  weakened  the 
springs  of  government,  and  enervated  the  courage  of  the 
people ;  but  the  never-ending  discords  of  the  Christians  did 
not  contribute  less  than  their  licentiousness  and  forgetfulness 
of  scriptural  morality,  in  producing  the  disasters  of  Jerusa- 
lem. AYhen  we  reflect,  likewise,  that  this  weak  kingdom, 
surrounded  by  enemies,  was  able  to  support  itself,  and  defer 
its  ruin  for  eiofhtv-eisrht  vears,  we  are  much  less  astonished 
at  its  fall  than  at  the  leno^th  of  its  duration.  The  kino:dom 
of  Jerusalem  owed  its  preservation  and  splendour  to  the 
divisions  of  the  Turks  and  Saracens,  and  the  numerous  sup- 
plies it  received  from  Europe ;  it  fell  as  soon  as  it  was  left 
to  itself,  and  its  enemies  united  to  attack  it. 

As  it  was  at  that  time,  however,  believed  that  the  welfare 
of  Christianity  and  the  glory  even  of  God  were  attached  to 
the  preservation  of  Jerusalem,  the  loss  of  the  holy  city 
created  throughout  Europe  as  much  surprise  as  consterna- 
tion. The  news  of  this  disaster  was  first  brought  into  Italv  ; 
and  Pope  Urban  III.,  who  was  then  at  Eerrara,  died  of 
grief.  Christians  forgot  all  the  ills  of  their  own  countrv  to 
weep  over  Jerusalem  ;  it  even  superseded  all  other  afflictions 
in  private  families.  Priests  carried  from  city  to  city  images,* 
representing  the  holy  sepulchre  trampled  under  the  feet  of 
horses,  and  Christ  cast  to  the  earth  by  Mahomet.  Melan- 
choly songs  deplored  the  capti^-it^*  of  the  king  of  Jerusalem 
and  his  knights,  the  fate  of  the  virgins  of  the  Lord  aban- 
doned to  the  insults  of  infidels,  and  the  misfortunes  of 
Christian  children  brought  up  in  slavery  and  in  the  worship 
of  fake  prophets. 

*  This  fact,  which  is  not  mentioned  by  our  Western  authors,  is  related 
with  many  details  by  "Boha-eddin  and  Abul-feda. 


.     HISTOEY   or   THE    CRUSADES.  435 

Superstition,  joined  with  despair,  created  a  belief  in  the 
most  sinister  prodigies.  On  the  day  Saladin  entered  into 
the  holy  city,  says  Rigord,  the  monks' of  Argenteuil  saw  the 
moon  descend  from  heaven  upon  the  earth,  and  then  re- ascend 
to  lieayen.  In  many  churches  the  crucifixes  and  images  of 
the  saints  shed  tears  of  blood  in  the  presence  of  the  faithful. 
A  Christian  knight  had  a  dream,  in  which  he  saw  an  eagle 
flying  over  an  army,  holding  in  his  claws  seven  javelins,  and 
uttering  in  an  intelligible  voice.  Evil  he  to  Jerusalem* 

Every  one  accused  himself  of  having  brought  down  the 
vengeance  of  Heaven  by  his  own  offences  ;  and  all  the  faithfid 
sought  to  appease  by  penitence  a  God  whom  they  believed  to 
be  irritated.  "  The  Lord,"  said  they  among  themselves,  "  has 
poured  out  the  floods  of  his  WTath,  and  the  arrows  of  his 
anger  are  batlied  in  the  blood  of  his  servants.  Let  our 
A^hole  life  pass  away  in  mourning,  since  we  have  heard  a 
voice  complaining  on  the  mountain  of  Sion,  and  the  children 
of  the  Lord  are  scattered."  The  sacred  orators  addressed 
God  himself,  and  made  the  churches  resound  with  their 
invocations  and  prayers.  "O  powerful  God!"  cried  they, 
"  thy  hand  has  armed  itself  for  the  triumph  of  thy  justice! 
Filled  with  tears,  we  come  to  implore  thy  goodness,"^  in  order 
that  thou  mayest  remember  thy  people,  and  that  thy  mercies 
may  exceed  our  miseries ;  deliver  not  over  thy  heritage  to 
shame;  and  let  the  angels  of  peace  obtain  the  fruits  of 
penitence  for  Jerusalem." 

The  Christian  world  was  for  a  moment  changed.  Whilst 
weeping  for  the  loss  of  the  tomb  of  Christ,  people  recalled 
the  precepts  of  the  holy  Scriptures,  and  became  all  at  once 
better.  Luxury  was  banished  from  cities ;  injuries  were 
forgotten,  and  alms  were  given  abundantly.  Christians  slept 
upon  ashes,  clothed  themselves  in  hair-cloth,  and  expiated 
their  disorderly  lives  by  fasting  and  mortification.  The 
clergy  set  the  example ;  the  morals  of  the  cloisters  were 
reformed,  and  cardinals,  condemning  themselves  to  poverty, 
promised  to  repair  to  the  Holy  Land,  supported  on  charity 
by  the  way. 

These  pious  reformations  did  not  last  long;  but  men's  minds 

*  These  prodigies  remind  us  of  those  related  by  the  historian  Josephus, 
in  his  account  of  the  conquest  of  Jerusalem. 


20 


436  msTOEY  OF  the  cetjsades. 

v\-ere  not  the  less  prepared  for  a  new  cnisade  by  tliera,  and 
all  Europe  was  soon  roused  by  the  voice  of  Gregory  YIII,, 
who  exhorted  the  faithful  to  assume  the  cross  and  take  up 
arms.  The  first  care  of  the  sovereign  pontiff  was  to  re- 
establish peace  among  Christian  nations  ;  and  with  that  view 
he  repaired  to  Pisa,  to  endeavour  to  terminate  the  angry 
disputes  that  had  arisen  between  the  Pisans  and  the 
Grenoese.  Gresrorv  died  without  finishinsr  the  work  he  had 
begun,  and  left  the  direction  of  the  crusade  to  his  successor, 
Clement  III.,  who,  immediately  after  his  accession  to  the 
pontifical  throne,  ordered  prayers  for  the  peace  of  the  AVest 
and  the  deliverance  of  the  land  of  the  pilgrims. 

"William.*  archbishop  of  Tvre,  had  quitted  the  East  to 
come  into  Europe  to  solicit  the  assistance  of  the  Christian 
princes,  and  was  charged  by  the  pope  to  preach  the  holy  war. 
AYilliam  was  more  able  and  more  eloquent  than  Heraclius, 
who  had  preceded  him  in  this  mission,  and,  further,  more 
worthy  by  his  virtues  of  being  the  interpreter  of  the  Chris- 
tians, and  to  speak  in  the  name  of  Christ.  After  ha^'ing 
awakened  the  zeal  of  the  nations  of  Italy,  he  repaired  to 
Prance,  and  \\a.s  present  at  an  assembly  convoked  near 
Gisors,  by  Henry  II.  of  Eno;land,  and  Philip  Augustus  of 
Prance.  On  the  arrival  of  William,  these  two  kings,  who 
were  at  war  for  the  country  of  Yexin,  laid  down  their  arms. 
The  bravest  warriors  of  France  and  England,  tinited  by  the 
dangers  of  their  brothers  of  the  East,  came  to  the  assembly 
whose  object  was  the  deliverance  of  the  holy  places.  Wil- 
liam was  received  with  enthusiasm,  and  read  with  a  loud 

*  Marin,  in  Lis  History  of  Saladin,  and  several  others  after  him,  have 
pretended  that  the  William  who  came  into  Europe  to  preach  the  crusade, 
was  not  the  author  of  the  Hiatory  of  Jerusalem.  This  assertion  is  founded 
on  an  obscure  passage  of  Hugh  de  Plagon,  and  is  not  at  all  confirmed  by 
the  testimony  of  contemporary  hi-torians.  Matthew  Paris,  and  all  the 
other  authors  of  the  time,  give  the  name  of  \Villiam  to  the  archbishop  of 
Tyre  who  came  into  Europe  ;  if  this  William  had  not  been  the  same  as 
the  historian  of  this  name,  would  it  not  have  been  remarked  by  contem- 
porary chronicles  .'  AH  these  chronicles  give  us  some  details  of  the  birth 
and  life  of  William,  author  of  the  History  of  Jerusalem ;  and  if  another 
William,  archbi.-hop  of  Tyre,  came  into  the  West,  why  have  not  the 
historians  of  the  time  made  him  known,  and  said  something  of  him  .■'  His 
mission  was  sufficiently  important,  the  see  in  which  he  was  placed  attracted 
attention  enough,  fjr  the  second  to  be  mentioned  as  well  as  the  first,  if 
tliere  was  one. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    CRUSADES.  437 

voice,  to  the  princes  and  kniglits,  an  account  of  the  taking 
of  Jerusalem  by  Saladin.  After  this  reading,  which  drew 
tears  from  all  the  assembly,  William  exhorted  the  faithful 
to  take  the  cross.  "  The  mountain  of  Sion,"  said  he,  "  still 
resounds  with  the  words  of  Ezekiel :  O  children  of  men, 
remember  that  day  in  which  the  king  of  Babylon  triumphed 
over  Jerusalem  !  In  one  single  day  all  the  evils  that  the 
prophets  announced  fell  upon  the  city  of  David  and  Solo- 
mon. That  city,  filled  by  all  Christian  nations,  remains  now 
alone,  or  rather  is  only  inhabited  by  a  sacrilegious  people. 
The  queen  of  nations,  the  capital  of  so  many  provinces,  has 
paid  the  tribute  imposed  upon  slaves.  All  her  gates  have 
been  broken,  and  her  guardians  exposed  with  cattle  in  the 
markets  of  infidel  cities.  The  Christian  states  of  the  East, 
which  caused  the  religion  of  the  cross  to  flourish  in  Asia, 
and  formed  the  bulwark  of  the  West  against  the  invasions 
of  the  Saracens,  are  reduced  to  the  cities  of  Tyre,  Antioch, 
and  Tripoli.  We  have  seen,  according  to  the  expression  of 
Isaiah,  the  Lord  extending  his  hand  and  its  inflictions  from 
the  Euphrates  to  the  torrent  of  Egypt.  The  inhabitants  of 
forty  cities  have  been  driven  from  their  homes,  despoiled  of 
their  wealth,  and  are  now  wandering  with  their  weeping 
families  among  the  nations  of  Asia,  without  finding  a  stone 
whereon  to  lay  their  heads.''' 

After  having  thus  described  the  misfortunes  of  the  Chris- 
tians of  the  East,  William  reproached  the  warriors  who 
listened  to  him,  with  not  having  come  to  the  aid  of  their 
brethren,  and  with  having  allowed  the  heritage  of  Christ  to 
be  taken  from  them.  He  was  astonished  that  they  coidd 
entertain  another  thought,  that  they  could  seek  any  other 
glory  than  that  of  delivering  the  holy  places ;  and  addressing 
himself  to  the  princes  and  knights  :  "To  meet  you  here," 
said  he,  "  I  have  traversed  fields  of  carnage  ;  nay,  within 
sight  even  of  this  assembly  I  have  seen  preparations  for 
war :  what  blood  is  it  you  have  shed,  what  blood  is  it  you 
are  about  to  shed  again  ?  AVhy  are  you  armed  with  these 
swords  ?  You  are  fighting  here  for  the  banks  of  a  river, 
for  the  limits  of  a  province,  or  for  a  transient  renown,  whilst 
infidels  trample  the  banks  of  Siloe,  whilst  they  invade  the 
kingdom  of  Grod,  and  whilst  the  cross  of  Christ  is  dragged 
ignominiously  through  the  streets  of  Bagdad.     You  shed 


438  HISTORY    or    the    CliUSADES, 

torrents  of  blood  for  Tain  treaties,  whilst  the  very  Grospel, 
that  solemn  treaty  between  God  and  men,  is  being  outraged ! 
Have  vou  forgotten  the  deeds  of  your  fathers  ?  A  Chiis- 
tian  kingdom  was  founded  by  them  in  the  midst  of  Mussul- 
inan  nations.  A  crowd  of  heroes,  a  crowd  of  princes  born 
in  vour  countrv,  went  to  defend  and  govern  it.  K  you  have 
permitted  tlieir  work  to  perish,  come  at  least  and  deliver 
their  tombs,  which  are  in  the  power  of  the  Saracens.  Does 
vour  Europe  no  longer  produce  such  warriors  as  Grodfi^y, 
Tancred.  and  their  companions  ?  The  prophets  and  saints 
buried  at  Jerusalem,  the  churches  transformed  into  mosques, 
the  very  stones  of  the  sepulchres,  all  cry  to  you  to  avenge 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  death  of  your  brethren.  VThaX ! 
whv^the  blood  of  Xaboth,  the  blood  of  Abel  which  arose 
towards  heaven,  foimd  avengers,  and  shall  the  blood  of 
Christ  arise  in  vaia  against  his  enemies  and  his  execu- 
tioners ? 

"  The  East  has  beheld  base  Cliristians,  whom  avarice  and 
fear  have  rendered  the  allies  of  Saladin  ;  I  do  not  suspect 
thev  will  find  imitators  among  you;  but  remember  what 
Christ  has  said :  '  He  iclw  is  not  for  me  is  against  me.'  If 
you  do  not  defend  the  cause  of  God,  what  cause  will  you 
dare  defend  ?  If  the  kins:  of  heaven  and  earth  find  vou  not 
beneath  his  colours,  where  are  the  powers  whose  standards 
you  will  follow  r  "WTiy  then  are  the  enemies  of  God  no 
lono^er  the  enemies  of  all  Christians  ?  ^Tiat  will  be  the  joy 
of  the  Saracens  amidst  their  impious  triumphs,  when  they 
shall  be  told  that  the  AVest  has  no  more  warriors  faithful  to 
Christ,  and  that  the  princes  and  kings  of  Europe  have  learnt 
with  iudifierence  the  disasters  and  captivity  of  Jerusalem  r" 

These  reproaches  made  in  the  name  of  religion  afiected 
the  hearts  of  the  princes  and  knights  deeply.  Henry  II. 
and  Pliilip  Augustus,  to  that  time  implacable  enemies,  em- 
braced each  other  in  tears,  and  put  themselves  forward  the 
first  to  receive  the  cross.  Eichard,  duke  of  Guienne,  son 
of  Henry,  Philip,  count  of  Flanders,  Hugh,  duke  of  Bur- 
gundy, Henr}',  count  of  Champagne,  Thibaut,  count  of 
Blois,  Eetrou,  count  of  Perche,  the  counts  of  Xevers,  de 
Bar,  Tendome.  Soissons,  the  two  brothers  Josselin  and 
Matthew  de  ^Montmorency,  "svith  a  crowd  of  barons  and 
knights,  together  with  several  bishops  of  Prance  and  Eng- 


niSTOET   OF    THE    CllUSADES.  439 

land,  all  took  the  oath  to  deliver  the  Holy  Land.     The 
whole  assembly  shouted  the  words  "  the  Cross !  tlie  Cross  V 
and  this  war-cry  soon  resounded  through  all  the  proA-inces. 
The  spot  on  which  the  Mthful  met  was  afterwards  called  the 
sacred Jield,  and  a  church  was  built  upon  it  to  preserve  the 
remembrance  of  the  pious  devotion  of  the  Christian  knights. 
As  money  was  wanting  to  carry  out  the  holy  enterprise,  it 
was  resolved  in  the  council  of  the  princes  and  bishops  that 
all  who  did  not  take  the  cross  should  pay  a  tenth  part  of 
their  revenues  and  of  the  value  of  their  property  of  all  kinds. 
The  terror  which  the  arms  of  Saladin  had  inspired,  caused 
the  name  of  the  Saladin  tithe  to  be  given  to  this  tax.     Ex- 
communications were  published  agamst  all  such  as  refused 
to  pay  a  debt  so  sacred.     In  vain  the  clergy,  of  whom  Peter 
of  Blois  undertook  the  defence,  alleged  the'liberty  and  inde- 
pendence of  the  Church,  and  pretended  they  could  not  be 
called  on  to  assist  the  Crusaders   otherwise*  than  by  their 
prayers ;  the  ecclesiastics  were  told  that  they  ought  to  set 
the  example,  that  the  clergy  was  not  the  Church,  and  that 
the  wealth  of  the  Church  iDelonged  to  Christ.     The  orders 
of  the  Chartreux,  of  Citeaux  and  Fontevi-ault,  with  the  hos- 
pital for  lepers,  were  all  that  were  exempt  from  a  tribute 
raised  for   a  cause  which  was   believed  to  be  that  of  all 
Christians.* 

In  the  two  first  crusades,  the  greater  part  of  the  villagers 
who  had  taken  the  cross,  had  done  so  to  emancipate  them- 
selves from  slavery.  Some  disorders  naturally  resulted  from 
this  ;  the  country  was  deserted,  the  lands  were  uncultivated ; 
in  this  crusade  means  were  taken  to  set  bounds  to  the  too 
forward  zeal  of  the  labourers :  all  serfs  who  em-olled  them- 
selves for  the  holy  war,  without  the  permission  of  their 
lords,  were  condemned  to  pay  the  Saladin  tithe,  as  if  they 
had  not  taken  the  cross. f 

JN"otwithstanding  all  this  excitement,  the  peace  which  had 

*  For  the  history  of  this  period,  the  following  authors  may  be  con- 
sulted with  advantage: — The  Acts  of  Ryraer,  the  historian  Riijord,  Roger 
of  Hoveden,  Matthew  Paris,  William  of  Newbridge,  the  Chronicle  of 
Alberic  of  Trois  Fontaines,  Otho  of  St.  Blaise,  Brompton,  the  Chronicle 
of  Gervais,  &c. 

t  "The  noblest  monument  of  a  conqueror's  fame  and  of  the  terror 
which  he  inspired,  is  the  Saladin  tenth." — Gibbon, — Trans. 


440  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CRUSA.DES. 


been  s-^om  to  by  the  kings  of  France  and  England  was  not 
long  held  sacred.  Eicbard,  ^vno  was  duke  of  Guienne,  ha^'ing 
had  a  quarrel  ^mh  the  count  of  Thoulouse,  Henry  took 
up  arms  to  assist  his  son.  Philip  flew  to  the  defence  of  his 
vassal ;  and  Xormandy,  Berr}',  and  Auvergne  were  soon  in  a 
blaze.  The  two  monarchs,  urged  by  the  solicitations  of  the 
nobles  and  bishops,  met  for  a  moment  in  the  sacred  field  in 
which  they  had  laid  down  their  arms,  but  they  could  not 
agree  upon  the  conditions  of  the  peace  ;  and  the  elm-tree 
imder  which  they  held  their  confereil'ce,  was  cut  do^ii  by  the 
orders  of  Philip.  Negotiations  were  renewed  several  tmies 
without  putting  a  stop  to  the  war.  The  king  of  Prance  re- 
quired that  Eichard  should  be  cro^Tied  king  of  England,  in 
the  lifetime  of  his  father,  and  that  he  shoidd  espouse  Alice, 
a  Prench  princess,  whom  Henry  detained  in  prison.  The 
king  of  England,  jealous  of  his  authority,  could  not  consent 
to  accept  these  conditions ;  and  woidd  neither  yield  up  his 
crown  nor  the  sister  of  Philip,  of  whom  he  was  enamoured. 
Eichard,  irritated  by  his  father's  refusal,  threw  himself  into 
the  party  of  Philip  Augustus,  and  declared  openly  against 
Henry ;  on  all  sides  they  flew  to  arms,  and  the  produce  of 
the  Saladin  tithe  was  employed  to  carry  on  a  sacrilegious 
war,  which  outrao;ed  both  moralitv  and  nature. 

This  war  was  not  a  good  augury  for  that  which  was  about 
to  be  undertaken  in  Asia :  the  pope's  legate  excommunicated 
Eichard,  and  threatened  Philip  with  placing  his  kingdom 
under  an  interdict.  Philip  despised  the  menaces  of  the 
legate,  and  told  him  that  the  Holy  See  had  no  right  to  med- 
dle with  the  quarrels  of  princes ;  Eichard,  still  more  violent, 
drew  his  sword,  and  was  on  the  point  of  cutting  down  the 
legate.  Peace  seemed  every  day  to  be  at  a  greater  distance  ; 
in  vain  cries  of  indignation  arose  from  the  people  ;  in  vain 
the  great  vassals  refused  to  take  part  in  a  quarrel  which  in- 
terested neither  religion  nor  country.  Henry,  who  consented 
to  an  interview,  stiU  haughtily  rejected  the  conditions  that 
were  proposed  to  him.  He  resisted  for  a  long  time  both 
the  prayers  of  his  subjects  and  the  counsels  of  the  bishops ; 
and  the  terror  only  \vith  which  the  thunder  of  Heaven,  which 
feh  by  his  side  during  the  conference,  inspii'cd  him,  could 
overcome  his  obstinacy.  He  at  length  accepted  Philip's 
conditions,   but   soon   repented   of  his   acquiescence ;   and 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  441 

shortly  after  died  of  grief,  leaving  his  maledictions  to  !Richard, 
who  had  made  open  war  against  him,  and  to  his  youngest 
son,  who  had  engaged  in  a  conspirac}''  against  him. 

Hichard  accused  himself  of  the  death  of  his  father,  and, 
pressed  by  repentance,  he  remembered  the  vow  he  had  made 
in  the  sacred  field.  Now  become  king  of  England,  he  began 
seriously  his  preparations  for  the  holy  expedition.  He  re- 
paired to  his  kingdom,  and  convoked,  near  Northampton,  an 
assembly  of  the  barons  and  prelates,  in  which  Baldwin,  arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  preached  the  crusade.  The  preacher 
of  the  holy  war  then  Avent  through  the  provmces  of  England 
to  raise  the  zeal  and  emulation  of  the  faithful.*  Miraculous 
adventures  attested  the  sanctity  of  his  mission,  and  brought 
under  the  banners  of  the  cross  the  wild  and  credulous  inha- 
bitants of  Wales,  and  several  other  countries  where  the  mis- 
fortunes of  Jerusalem  had  never  been  heard  of. 

The  enthusiasm  of  the  English  for  this  crusade,  mani- 
fested itself  at  first  by  a  violent  persecution  of  the  Jews, 
great  Qumbers  of  whom  were  massacred  in  the  cities  of 
London  and  York.  A  vast  many  of  these  unfortunate 
people  found  no  means  of  escape  from  their  persecutors  but 
in  a  self-inflicted  death.  These  horrible  scenes  were  renewed 
every  crusade.  AYhen  money  was  required  for  the  holy  ex- 
pedition, it  was  perceived  that  the  Jews  were  the  depositaries 
of  the  general  wealth ;  and  the  knowledge  of  the  treasures 
accumulated  in  their  hands,  seemed  to  lead  the  people  to 
remember  that  it  was  they  who  had  crucified  their  Grod. 

E-ichard  did  not  take  much  pains  to  repress  the  misguided 
multitude,  but  availed  himself  of  the  persecution  of  the 
Jews  to  increase  his  own  treasures.  But  neither  the  spoils 
of  the  Jews,  nor  the  produce  of  the  Saladin  tithe,  for  the 
non-payment  of  which  the  English  were  threatened  with 
imprisonment,  at  all  satisfied  the  king  of  England.   Richard 

*  There  is  extant  in  Latin  an  account  of  the  journey  of  Archbishop 
Baldwin  through  the  country  of  Wales,  entitled  Itinerarium  Cambrice, 
drawn  up  by  Barry,  who  accompanied  the  preacher  of  the  crusade.  This 
journey  is  curious,  from  the  singular  prodigies  and  miracles  which  are 
related  in  it.  If  this  relation  may  be  credited,  Archbishop  Baldwin 
neglected  no  means  to  induce  the  people  to  take  the  cross ;  he  enrolled 
one  day,  says  Barry,  a  great  number  of  men  who  came  to  him  in  a  state 
of  nudity,  their  clothes  being  secreted  by  their  wives  and  friends,  who 
wishad  to  prevent  their  going. 


442  HISTOSY    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

alienated  the  domains  of  the  cro\m,  and  put  to  sale  all  the 
great  di2:nities  of  the  kingdom ;  lie  would  sell,  he  said,  the 
city  of  Loudon,  if  he  coidd  fijid  a  purchaser.  He  went 
afterwards  into  Xorraandy,  where  the  ''Estates"  permitted 
him  to  exhaust  that  rich  province,  and  gave  him  full  means 
to  support  a  war  in  which  the  whole  people  took  so  great  an 
interest. 

A  great  number  of  warriors  assumed  the  cross  in  France 
and  England,  and  the  preparations  for  the  crusade  were 
finished  amidst  general  fermentation.  Many  barons  and 
lords,  however,  did  not  announce  the  period  of  their  de- 
parture, and  delayed,  under  various  pretexts,  the  pilgrimage 
to  which  they  had  engaged  themselves  bv  oath.  The  cele- 
brated  Peter  of  Blois,  addressed  a  pathetic  exhortation  to 
them,  in  which  he  compared  them  to  reapers  who  put  off 
beginning  their  work  until  the  harvest  was  finished.  The 
orator  of  the  holy  war  represented  to  them  that  strong  and 
courageous  men  found  a  countiy  everywhere,  and  that  true 
pilgrims  ought  to  resemble  the  birds  of  heaven.*  He  recalled 
to  their  ambition  the  example  of  Abraham,  who  abandoned 
liis  home  to  elevate  himself  among  the  nations,  who  crossed 
the  Jordan  with  a  staff  only,  and  retiu-ned  followed  bv  two 

*  • 

troops  of  warriors.  This  exhortation  revived  the  ardour  for 
the  crusade,  which  had  evidently  begim  to  cool.  The  mon- 
archs  of  Prance  and  England  had  an  interview  at  Xonan- 
court,  where  they  agreed  to  proceed  to  Palestine  by  sea. 
They  made,  at  the  same  time,  several  regulations  to  secure 
order  and  discipline  in  the  armies  they  were  about  to  lead 
into  Asia.  The  laws  of  religion,  and  the  penalties  that  they 
inflict,  did  not  appear  to  them  suflicient  in  this  case.  The 
justice  of  these  barbarous  ages  was  charged  ^-ith  the  onerous 
task  of  suppressing  the  passions  and  Wees  of  the  Crusaders: 
whoever  gave  a  blow,  was  to  be  plunged  three  times  into  the 

*  The  discourse  of  Feter  of  Blois,  -nrhich  is  printed  in  his  works,  has 
for  title,  Tractatiis  de  Jerosolymitand  Peregrinaiione.  After  having 
quoted  several  passages  from  the  Bible  and  Testament  to  exhort  the  Cru- 
saders to  set  out.  he  cites  two  verses  from  the  tenth  chapter  of  Juvenal, 
and  two  verses  from  the  Fasti  of  Ovid.  He  is  not  satisfied  with  pre- 
senting to  the  pilgrims  the  example  of  Abraham,  but  points  out  to  them 
all  the  kings  and  captains  of  profane  antiquity.  Peter  of  Blois  does  not 
spare,  in  his  discourse,  the  princes  and  nobles  who  compelled  the  clergy 
to  pay  tribute  towards  the  expenses  of  the  holy  war. 


HISTOET    or    THE    CKUSADES.  443 

sea ;  lie  wto  struck  T\'itli  the  sword,  had  his  hand  cut  off ; 
he  who  abused  another,  gave  to  the  person  he  had  offended 
as  many  ounces  of  silver  as  he  had  uttered  invectives ;  when 
a  man  was  convicted  of  theft,  boiling  pitch  was  poiu-ed  upon 
his  shaven  head,  it  was  then  covered  with  feathers,  and  he 
was  abandoned  on  the  nearest  shore  ;  a  muixlerer,  bound  to 
the  corpse  of  his  victim,  was  to  be  cast  into  the  sea,  or  buried 
alive. 

As  the  presence  of  women  had  occasioned  many  disorders 
in  the  first  crusade,  they  were  forbidden  to  go  to  the  Holy 
Land.  Gambling  M-ith  dice,  or  other  games  of  chance, 
together  with  profane  swearing  or  blasphemy,  were  strictly 
Ibrbidden  among  the  Crusaders  ;  and  luxury  of  the  table  or 
in  clothes  was  repressed  by  a  law.  The  assembly  of  ISTonan- 
court  made  many  other  regulations,  and  neglected  nothing 
likely  to  bring  back  the  soldiers  of  Christ  to  the  simplicity 
and  wtues  of  the  Gospel. 

Whenever  princes,  nobles,  or  knights  set  out  for  the  holy 
war,  they  made  their  wills,  as  if  they  were  certain  never  to 
return  to  Europe.  AVhen  Philip  came  back  to  his  capital, 
he  declared  his  last  will,  and  regulated,  for  the  period  of  his 
absence,  the  administration  of  his  kingdom,  which  he  con- 
fided to  Queen  Adela,  his  mother,  and  his  uncle,  the  Cardinal 
de  Champagne.  After  having  fulfilled  the  duties  of  a  king, 
he  laid  down  the  sceptre,  to  take,  at  St.  Denis,  the  staff  and 
scrip  of  a  pilgrim,,  and  went  to  Yezelay,  where  he  was  to 
have  another  interview  with  Eichard.  The  two  kings  again 
swore  an  eternal  friendship,  and  both  called  down  the 
thunders  of  the  Church  upon  the  head  of  him  who  should 
break  his  oaths.  They  separated  full  of  friendship  for  each 
other ;  Eichard  hastened  to  embark  at  Marseilles,  and  Philip 
at  Genoa.  An  English  historian  remarks  that  thev  were 
the  only  kings  of  Prance  and  England  that  ever  fought 
together  for  the  same  cause  ;  but  this  harmony,  the  work  of 
extraordinary  circumstances,  was  not  likely  to  exist  long 
between  two  princes  acted  upon  by  so  many  motives  of 
rivalry.  Both  young,  ardent,  brave,  and  magnificent;  Philip 
the  greater  king,  Eichard  the  greater  captain;  both  animated 
by  the  same  ambition  and  the  same  passion  for  glory. 
Desire  for  renown,  much  more  than  piety,  drew  them  to 
the  Holy  Land :  both  haughty  and  prompt  to  revenge  an  in- 


444  HISTORY    OF    THE    CBUSADES. 

JLirv',  they  acknowledged,  in  their  various  differences,  no  other 
arbitrator  or  judge  but  the  sword :  rehgion  had  not  sufficient 
empire  over  their  minds  to  humble  their  pride,  and  each 
would  have  thou2:ht  himself  des^raded,  if  he  had  either  de- 
manded  or  accepted  peace.  To  ascertain,  at  a  glance,  how 
little  hope  could  be  founded  on  the  union  of  these  two 
princes,  it  is  only  necessary  to  observe,  that  Philip,  on 
ascending  his  throne,  had  shown  himself  to  be  the  most 
inveterate  enemy  of  England,  and  that  Eichard  was  the  son 
of  that  Eleanor  of  Guienne,  the  first  wife  of  Louis  YII., 
Avho,  after  the  second  crusade,  had  quitted  her  husband, 
threatening  Erance  with  her  revenge. 

After  the  conference  of  Grisors,  the  archbishop  of  Tyre 
repaired  to  Germany,  to  solicit  Frederick  Barbarossa  to  take 
the  cross.  This  prince  had  signalized  his  valour  in  forty 
battles  ;  a  long  and  fortunate  reign  had  rendered  his  name 
illustrious ;  but  his  age  recognised  no  glory  as  true  but  that 
which  was  won  in  Asia.  He  wished  to  deserve  the  praises 
of  his  pious  contemporaries,  and  took  up  arms  for  the 
deliverance  of  the  Holy  Land ;  he  was,  likewise,  doubtless 
influenced  by  the  scruples  which  his  quarrels  with  the  pope 
had  left  upon  his  conscience,  and  by  his  desire  to  perfect 
liis  reconciliation  with  the  Holy  See. 

A  oreneral  diet  was  assembled  at  Mavence.  The  nobles 
and  prelates  would  not  allow  Germany  to  remain  indifferent 
to  a  cause  which  had  inflamed  the  zeal  of  the  other  nations 
of  Eui'ope.  Frederick,  whose  devotion  they  encom*aged, 
descended  from  his  throne,  amidst  general  acclamations,  and 
received  the  sign  of  the  Crusaders  from  the  hands  of  the 
archbishop  of  Tyre.  His  example  was  followed  by  his  son, 
Frederick  duke  of  Swabia  ;  Leopold  duke  of  Austria,  and 
Berthold  duke  of  Moravia  ;  Herman,  marquis  of  Baden,  the 
count  of  Nassau,  the  bishops  of  Besan9on,  Munster,  Osna- 
burg,  and  Passau,  with  a  crowd  of  barons  and  knights,  like- 
"wise  swore  to  deliver  the  tomb  of  Christ. 

The  war  against  the  infidels  was  preached  in  all  the 
churches.  Happy,  said  the  sacred  orators,  are  they  who 
undertake  this  holy  voyage  ;  more  happy  are  they  who  never 
return  from  it.  Among  the  prodigies  that  appeared  to 
announce  the  will  of  Heaven,  the  miraculous  vision  of  a 
virgin  of  Lewenstein,  is  particularly  mentioned.     She  had 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  445 

learnt  the  conquest  of  Jerusalem  on  the  very  day  that  the 
Saracens  had  entered  the  lioly  city,  and  rejoiced  at  this 
lamentable  event,  saying  tliat  it  would  furnish  a  means  of 
salvation  for  the  warriors  of  the  AVest.* 

The  multitude  of  those  who  presented  themselves  to  re- 
ceive the  cross  was  so  great,  that  means  were  obliged  to  be 
taken  to  repress  their  ardour.  Prederick,  who  had  followed 
liis  uncle  Conrad  in  the  second  crusade,  was  aware  of  the 
disorders  and  misfortunes  that  might  result  from  too  great 
a  number  of  followers.  He  refused  to  receive  under  his 
banners  any  who  coidd  not  take  with  them  three  marks  of 
silver ;  and  rejected  all  such  vagabonds  and  adventurers  as 
had,  in  the  other  expeditious,  committed  so  many  excesses, 
and  dislionoured  the  cause  of  the  Christians  by  their 
brigandage. 

iVedericli,  before  his  departure,  sent  ambassadors  to  the 
emperor  of  Constantinople,  and  the  sultan  of  Iconium,  to 
demand  freedom  of  passage  through  their  states  ;  and  wrote 
to  Saladin,  to  declare  war,  if  he  did  not  restore  to  the  Franks 
Jerusalem  and  the  other  Christian  cities  that  had  surrendered 
to  his  arms.f  The  embassy  addressed  to  Saladin,  shows  the 
spirit  of  chivahy  in  which  Frederick  entered  upon  this 
crusade.  That  which,  without  doubt,  induced  him  to 
address  the  sultan  of  Iconium,  was  an  opinion  then  spread 
through  Europe,  that  the  IMussulman  prince  had  evinced  a 
desire  of  embracing  the  Christian  religion.;];  Frederick  left 
Eatisbon  at  the  head  of  an  army  of  a  hundred  thousand 
combatants,  and  crossed  Hungary  and  Bulgaria,  as  the  first 
Crusaders  had  done.  He  arrived  in  the  provinces  of  the 
Greek  empire  before  Kichard  and  Philip  had  embarked  for 
Palestine. 

Isaac  Angelus  was  then  seated  on  the  throne  of  Constan- 
tinople ;  this  prince  had  only  been  brave  on  one  single  day, 
and  his  coiu-age  procured  him  an  empire.     Andronicus,  the 

*  Canfipratensis  apud  Suriimi,  die  Junii,  cap  20.  This  is  likewise 
related  by  Besoldo,  De  JlegiOvs  Hyerosolimitanorum,  p.  274. 

t  Tiie  letter  written  by  Frederick  to  Saladin,  and  the  answer  of  Saladin 
to  Frederick,  have  been  preserved  by  Baronius  and  Matthew  Paris. 

X  In  the  w.orks  of  Peter  of  Blois  is  a  letter  which  Alexander  III.  wrote 
to  the  sultan  of  Iconium,  giving  him  counsels  to  direct  him  in  his  con- 
rersion.     The  same  letter  is  in  many  other  collections. 


446  HISTORY  or  the  crusades. 

IseTO  of  the  Greeks,  having  been  warned  by  soothsayers 
that  he  would  be  dethroned  by  one  of  his  subjects,  who  bore 
the  name  of  Isaac,  desired  to  get  rid  of  Isaac  Angelus,  and 
sent  one  of  his  officers  to  conduct  him  to  prison.  Isaac, 
animated  by  despair,  instead  of  obeying,  threw  himself  upon 
tlie  minister  of  Andronicus,  struck  liim  to  the  earth,  and 
running  into  the  pubhc  streets,  cried  out :  "  J  have  killed 
the  devil!  I  have  killed  the  devil!''  Upon  the  report  of 
this  event  spreading  through  the  city,  the  people  assembled 
in  crowds  and  proclaimed  Isaac  emperor.  In  vain  Andronicus 
endeavoured  to  quiet  the  storm ;  he  was  seized  by  his  ovntl 
soldiers,  and  loaded  with  chains.  Dragged  through  the 
streets  by  an  infuriated  multitude,  he  underwent  in  one  day 
more  torments  than  he  had  inflicted  upon  his  enemies  during 
all  his  reign,  and  Constantinople  beheld  a  populace  a  hun- 
dred times  more  barbarous  than  all  her  tyrants. 

It  was  amidst  these  bloody  and  disgusting  scenes  that 
Isaac  was  clothed  with  the  imperial  purple.  He  did  not 
possess  the  savage  character  of  Andronicus,  but  he  was 
entirely  incapable  of  defending  the  empire  against  its  ene- 
mies. Instead  of  raising  armies,  he  gathered  together  in 
his  palace  a  troop  of  monks,  who  kept  up  his  sense  of  secu- 
rity by  their  prayers,  and  turned  his  attention  from  the 
cares  and  duties  of  state  by  their  visions  and  prophecies. 
The  mutual  hatred  of  the  Greeks  and  Latins  had  increased 
under  his  reign  and  that  of  Andronicus.  The  Latins  who 
inhabited  Constantinople  were  driven  from  the  city,  their 
houses  were  given  up  to  the  flames,  and  a  great  number  of 
them  were  put  to  death.  They  who  escaped  the  carnage 
took  refuge  in  the  vessels  and  galleys,  and  made  sanguinary 
reprisals  on  the  islands  and  shores  of  the  Hellespont,  The 
monks  who  surrounded  Isaac  partook  of  the  blind  hatred  % 

entertained  by  the  people  for  the  Christians  of  the  AYest, 
and  dreaded  their  vensreance.  Thev  adnsed  the  successor 
of  Andronicus  to  mistrust  the  emperor  of  Germany,  and  to 
betm}'  him  if  he  could  not  conquer  him. 

Faithful  to  their  counsels,  Isaac  promised  to  entertaru  the 
Germans  in  his  states,  and  at  the  same  time  formed  an 
alliance  ^^-ith  Saladin.  He  sent  orders  to  liis  governors  to 
harass  the  Crusaders,  and  even  to  attack  them  by  open  force. 
These  imprudent  hostilities  exposed  the  weakness  of  the 


HISTOET    OF    THE    CHUSAEES.  447 

Greeks,  and  were  of  service  to  the  Germans  ;  for  Frederick, 
after  having  put  the  troops  of  Isaac  to  flight,  took  every 
advantage  of  his  victory.  Isaac,  constantly  intoxicated  by 
the  incense  of  his  courtiers,  and  seduced  by  the  promises  of 
the  monks,  only  replied  to  the  victories  of  Frederick  by 
letters  full  of  haughtiness  and  menaces ;  he  refused  to 
acknowledge  him  as  emperor,  and  could  see  nothing  but  a 
vassal  in  a  prince  Avho  was  marching  in  triumph  towards  his 
capital.  Whilst  his  subjects  were  from  ail  parts  Hying  before 
the  Germans,  he  gave  himself  in  his  letters  the  titles  of  onost 
suhlime,  most  powerful  emperor,  the  angel  of  the  ivhole  earth  ; 
and  caused  the  ambassadors  of  Frederick  to  be  imprisoned. 
The  patriarch  of  Constantinople  preached,  by  his  orders,  in 
the  church  of  St.  Sophia,  the  mm-der  of  the  Latins. 

Nevertheless,  terror  at  length  took  possession  of  the  heart 
of  Isaac,  and  from  that  moment  this  prince  altered  the  tone 
of  his  language,  and  became  the  most  humble  of  suppKants. 
Frederick  was  now  for  him,  the  most  virtuous  emperor  of  the 
Germans,  and  he  voluntarily  granted  him  much  more  than 
he  had  before  refused  him.  After  having  required  hostages, 
he  himself  gave  them,  and  fed  during  several  months  an 
army  he  had  sworn  to  destroy.  He  endured  without  a 
murmur  the  violences  which  the  Crusaders  committed  in 
their  passage,-  and  treated  an  army  that  laid  waste  his  pro- 
vinces as  if  they  had  saved  his  empire.  The  emperor  of 
Germany  received  magnificent  presents,  and  all  the  vessels 
of  the  Greek  navy  were  employed  in  transporting  the 
Crusaders  into  Asia. 

The  Germans  embarked  at  GaUipoli,  and  crossed  the 
Hellespont.  The  sight,  of  the  coasts  of  Asia,  and  the  easy 
victories  they  had  obtained  over  the  Greeks,  made  them 
forget  the  obstacles  and  dangers  of  a  long  and  painful 
march.  They  saw  nothing  in  the  regions  they  were  about 
to  traverse  but  laurels  to  be  gathered  and  kingdoms  to  be 
destroyed  or  founded  ;  but  it  was  not  long  ere  this  brilliant 
prospect  disappeared.  "Whilst  they  remained  in  the  terri- 
tories of  Isaac,  they  had  to  suffer  from  the  perfidy  of  the 
Greeks  ;  and  when  they  arrived  among  the  Turks,  they  had 
fresh  enemies  to  contend  with.  The  sultan  of  Iconium,  who 
had  been  as  liberal  of  his  promises  as  the  emperor  of  Con- 
stantinople, did  not  prove  at  aU  more  faithful  to  his  word. 


448  UISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

"\\"hen  the  Germans  arrived  on  the  banks  of  the  Meander, 
near  Laodicea,  they  found  the  Turks  dra-wTi  up  in  order  of 
battle  upon  the  heights,  and  ready  to  surprise  them  in  the 
defiles  :  the  latter  vrere,  however,  punished  for  the  treachery 
of  their  master,  and  cut  to  pieces ;  theii*  bodies  covered  the 
passages  they  had  been  charged  to  defend. 

The  Crusaders,  ever  persuaded  that  Heaven  protected 
their  arms,  attributed  this  victory  to  miracles.  Several 
knights  declared,  upon  oath,  that  they  had  seen  St.  George 
and  St.  Victor,*  clothed  in  white,  and  armed  with  lances, 
fighting  at  the  head  of  the  Christians ;  but  the  celestial 
powers  that  had  thus  enabled  the  Germans  to  triumph  over 
the  arms  of  their  enemies,  did  not  destroy  the  obstacles 
which  impeded  the  march  of  their  victorious  army.  The 
Crusaders  soon  felt  the  want  of  provisions  in  a  country 
ravaged  at  the  same  time  by  the  conquerors  and  the  con- 
quered. Snow,  raiai,  and  the  rigours  of  winter  rendered 
their  march  exceedingly  painful  through  a  mountainous 
region,  intersected  by  torrents  that  had  overflowed  their 
banks.  Hunger  and  disease  destroyed  a  great  number  of 
the  soldiers.  To  remedy  the  evils  which  threatened  his 
army  with  entire  ruin,  Frederick  was  obliged  to  attack 
Iconium,  the  very  capital  in  which  he  had  expected  to  find 
peace  and  all  the  provisions  he  stood  in  need  of. 

At  the  first  signal  the  ramparts  were  scaled ;  Iconium 
was  taken  by  assault,  and  given  up  to  pillage.  The  beaten 
sultan  then  fulfilled  his  promises,  and  this  last  victory 
restored  abundance  in  the  Christian  armv. 

From  this  time  t!ie  Germans  spread  teiTor  in  every 
countrv  around  them.  The  Armenians  solicited  their 
alliance,  and  the  independent  tribes  of  the  Turcomans,  on 
several  occasions,  felt  the  eflects  of  their  courage.  During 
their  triumphal  march  they  attracted  the  admiration  of.  the 
natives  by  their  discipline ;  and  the  emirs,  charged  with 
announcing  their  arrival  to  Saladin,  praised  their  indomi- 
table valour  in  fight,  and  their  heroic  patience  in  the  labours 
and  fatigues  of  war. 

The  leader  of  this  formidable  army  had  conquered  several 

*  The  monk  Pant,  who  was  himself  a  Crusader,  and  Crasius,  both 
attest  this  miracle. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  449 

nations,  and  dictated  laws  to  two  empires,  without  having 
yet  done  anything  towards  the  aim  of  liis  enterprise.  After 
having  crossed  Mount  Taurus,  near  Laureuda,  he  had 
resumed  his  march  towards  Syria  at  the  beginning  of 
spring,  and  was  proceeding  along  the  banks  of  the  river 
Selef.*  Attracted  by  the  freshness  and  limpidity  of  the 
waters,  he  wished  to  bathe ;  but,  seized  all  at  once  by  a 
mortal  coldness,  he  was  dragged  out  insensible,  and  soon 
after  died,  humbly  bowing  to  the  will  of  God,  who  would 
not  allow  him  to  behold  the  land  he  was  going  to  defend. 
His  death  was  more  fatal  to  his  army  than  the  loss  of  a 
great  battle ;  all  the  Germans  wept  for  a  chief  who  had  so 
often  led  them  to  victory,  and  whose  name  alone  was  the 
terror  of  the  Saracens.  The  bones  of  this  unfortunate 
monarch  were  preserved  for  the  purpose  of  being  buried  in 
that  Jerusalem  he  had  sworn  to  deliver,  but  in  which  he 
could  not  even  obtain  a  tomb.  William,  who  had  been  to 
preach  the  crusade  in  Europe,  buried  the  remains  of  Frede- 
rick in  the  city  of  Tyre,  and  pronounced  the  funeral  oration 
of  the  most  powerful  monarch  of  the  Christians. 

After  the  death  of  Erederick,  grief  weakened  the  courage 
of  his  soldiers ;  some  deserted  the  banners  of  the  crusade, 
whilst  the  others  listlessly  and  sadly  continued  their  march 
under  the  orders  of  Frederick,   duke  of  Swabia,  who  re- 

*  Most  historians  make  Frederick  perish  in  the  river  Cydnus,  in  which 
Alexander  bathed;  but  they  have  confounded  the  Cydnus  with  the  Selef, 
according  to  historians  of  the  time.  The  Cydnus,  which  is  now  called 
Kara-sou,  that  is  to  say,  black  loater,  flows  from  Antitaurus  into  Lower 
Armenia,  near  ancient  Diansea  ;  it  enters  Cilicia,  pas>es  by  the  city  of 
Tarsus,  and  falls  into  the  sea  two  leagues  from  that  city.  Selef,  a  little 
river,  has  its  source  in  the  mountains  of  Isauria,  and  bathes  the  walls  of 
Seleucia ;  the  inhabitants  commonly  call  it  "the  water  of  Selefke." 
According  to  Afmenian  historians,  it  was  in  this  river  Frederick  Barba- 
rossa  met  his  death.  S.  Narses,  of  Lampron,  sent  by  the  Armenians  to 
compliment  the  emperor  of  Germany,  says  that  that  prince,  bathing  in  the 
river  Selef,  was  carried  away  by  the  rapidity  of  the  stream,  and  that,  being 
weakened  by  age,  he  was  not  able  to  contend  against  it,  and  was  drowned. 
(This  precious  and  authentic  information  is  giver  us  by  M.  Cahan  de  Cer- 
bied,  Armenian  professor.)  The  Arabian  historian  Omad  relates  that 
Frederick  Barbarossa  was  drowned  in  endeavouring  to  cross  the  river  on 
horseback ;  the  force  of  the  stream  carried  him  towards  a  tree,  against 
which  he  struck  his  liead.  He  was  dragged  out  of  the  water,  adds  Omad, 
and  his  soul  being  ready  to  quit  his  body,  the  angel  of  death  took  pos- 
session of  it,  and  carried  it  to  hell. 


450  HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

minded  them  of  the  yiii:ues  of  his  father,  but  was  unable 
to  lead  them  to  A-ictorv.  The  contests  they  still  had  to 
maintain  against  the  Saracens,  together  with  hunger,  fatigue, 
and  disease,  reduced  the  armj  of  the  Germans  to  six  or 
seven  hundred  horse,  and  about  five  thousand  foot.  This 
miserable  wreck  of  a  formidable  army  crossed  Syria;  and 
the  report  of  their  disasters  having  preceded  them,  their 
arrival  must  have  created  more  terror  than  confidence 
among  the  Christians,  who  were  then  carrying  on  the  siege 
of  Ptolemais. 


BOOK    VIII. 


A.D.  1188—1192. 

Whilst  the  crusade  was  being  preached  in  Europe, 
Saladin  was  following  up  the  course  of  his  victories.  The 
battle  of  Tiberias  and  the  taking  of  Jerusalem  had  created 
so  general  a  terror,  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  Holy  Land 
were  persuaded  it  was  useless  to  endeavour  to  resist  the 
army  of  the  Saracens.  Amid  this  consternation,  one  city 
alone  defied  and  checked  all  the  united  forces  of  the  new 
conqueror  of  the  East.  Saladin  was  exceedingly  anxious 
for  the  conquest  of  Tyre,  and  had  twice  collected  both  his 
fleets  and  his  armies  to  attack  it.  But  the  inhabitants  had 
sworn  to  die  rather  than  surrender  to  the  Mussulmans ; 
which  noble  determination  was  the  work  of  Conrad,  who 
had  recently  arrived  in  the  city,  and  appeared  to  have  been 
sent  by  Heaven  to  save  it. 

Conrad,  son  of  the  marquis  of  Montferrat,  bore  a  name 
renowned  throughout  the  West,  and  the  fame  of  his 
exploits  had  preceded  him  into  Asia.  In  his  earliest 
youth  he  had  distinguished  himself  in  the  war  of  the  Holy 
See  against  the  emperor  of  G^erman3^  A.  passion  for  glory 
and  a  love  of  adventure  then  led  him  to  Constantinople, 
where  he  suppressed  a  sedition  which  threatened  the  imperial 
throne,  and  killed  the  leader  of  the  rebels  on  the  field  of 
battle.  The  sister  of  Isaac  Angelus  and  the  title  of  Caesar 
were  the  reward  of  his  courage  and  his  services ;  but  his 
restless  character  would  not  allow  him  to  enjoy  his  good 
fortune  long.  Whilst  surrounded  by  peaceful  grandeur,  he 
was  roused  by  the  fame  of  the  holy  war,  and,  heedless  of  the 
tenderness  of  a  bride,  or  the  gratitude  of  an  emperor,  he 
hastened  into  Palestine.  Conrad  reached  the  coast  of 
Phoenicia  a  few  days  after  the  battle  of  Tiberias.  At  the 
moment  of  his  arrival,  the  city  of  Tyre  had  named  deputies 

Vol.  T.— 21 


452  HISTORY  or  tue  crusades. 

to  demand  a  capitulation  of  Saladin ;  but  his  presence 
revived  the  courage  of  the  besieged,  and  changed  the  face 
of  everything.  He  caused  himself  to  be  made  commander, 
he  widened  the  ditches,  and  repaired  the  fortifications ;  and 
the  inhabitants  of  Tvre,  attacked  by  t^ea  and  land,  becoming 
all  at  once  invincible  warriors  under  his  orders,  were  able  to 
contend  with  the  fleets  and  armies  of  the  Saracens. 

The  old  marquis  of  Montlerrat,  the  father  of  Conrad,  who 
had  left  his  peaceful  states  to  visit  the  Holj  Land,  was 
present  at  the  battle  of  Tiberias.  Made  prisoner  by  the 
Mussulmans,  he  languished  in  the  prisons  of  Damascus, 
until  his  children  might  be  able  to  deliver  him  or  purchase 
his  liberty. 

ISaladin  sent  for  him  to  his  army,  and  promised  the  brave 
Conrad  to  restore  his  father,  and  grant  him  rich  possessions 
in  Syria,  if  he  woidd  open  the  gates  of  Tyre  to  him.  fie 
threatened  at  the  same  time  to  place  the  old  marquis  before  the 
front  rank  of  the  Saracens,  and  expose  him  to  all  the  ai-rov.  s 
of  the  besieged.  Conrad  haughtily  replied  that  he  despised 
the  gifts  of  infidels,  and  that  the  life  of  his  father  was  k^s 
dear  to  him  than  the  cause  of  the  Christians.  He  added 
that  nothing  shoidd  stop  his  exertions,  and  that  if  th.e 
Saracens  were  so  barbarous  as  to  sacrifice  an  old  man  w  Ijo 
had  surrendered  himself  tipon  the  word  of  Saladin, he  should 
take  glory  from  being  descended  from  a  martyr.  After  thi,s 
reply  the  Saracens  renewed  their  attacks,  and  the  Tyrians 
continued  to  defend  themselves  bravely.  The  Hospitallers, 
the  Templars,  and  the  bravest  of  the  warriors  that  were  still 
in  Palestine,  repaired  to  Tyre  to  take  part  in  this  glorious 
defence.  Among  the  Franks  who  distinguished  themselves 
by  their  valour,  no  one  was  more  remarkable  than  a  Spanish 
gentleman,  known  in  history  by  the  name  of  Tlw  Green 
Kniglit.  Alone,  say  the  old  chronicles,  he  repulsed  and 
dispersed  whole  battalions  of  the  enemy ;  he  fought  several 
times  in  single  combat,  always  overcoming  the  most  intrepid 
of  the  Mussulmans,  and  creating  in  Saladin  the  strongest 
admiration  for  his  courage  and  his  feats  of  aiTQs. 

The  city  did  not  contain  a  single  citizen  that  was  not  an 
active  combatant ;  the  children  even  were  so  many  soldiers, 
and  the  women  animated  the  warriors  by  their  presence  and 
theii'  applause.     On  board  the  ships,  tmder  the  walls,  battles 


HISTOE,!'    OF    THE    CRUSADE3.  453 

vvere  contiuuallj  fouglit ;  and  tbe  Saracens,  on  all  occasions, 
asrain  met  witli  the  Christian  heroes  that  had  so  often 
inspired  them  with  fear. 

kSaladin,  despairing  of  taking  Tyre,  resolved  to  raise  the 
siege,  and  attack  Tripoli ;  but  was  not  more  successful  in 
this  new  enterprise.  AVilliam,  king  of  Sicily,  upon  being 
informed  of  the  disasters  in  Palestine,  sent  assistance  to 
tlie  Ohristians.  Admiral  Margarit,  whose  talents  and  vic- 
tories liad  procured  for  him  the  surname  of  King  of  the  Sea 
and  the  Kew  Neptune^  arrived  on  the  coast  of  Syria  with 
fifty  galleys,  three  hundred  knights,  and  five  hundred  foot- 
soldiers.  The  Sicilian  warriors  hastened  to  the  defence  of 
Tripoli,  and,  commanded  by  the  Green  Knight,  who  had  so 
eminently  distinguished  himself  at  the  siege  of  Tyre,  forced 
Saladin  to  abandon  his  undertaking. 

The  city  and  country  of  Tripoli,  since  the  death  of  Eay- 
inond,  had  belonged  to  Bohemond,  prince  of  Antioch. 
Saladin,  exasperated  by  his  double  disappoiutment,  laid 
waste  the  banks  of  the  Orontes,  and  forced  Bohemond  to 
purchase  a  truce  of  eight  months.  The  ]Mussulraans  then 
took  possession  of  Tortosa  and  some  castles  built  on  the 
heights  of  Libanus.  The  fortress  of  Carac,  from  which  had 
issued  the  war  so  fatal  to  the  Christians,  defended  itself 
during  a  whole  year  against  a  Mussulman  army.  The  be- 
sieged, destitute  of  all  succour,  and  a  prey  to  every  kind  of 
evil  and  privation,  carried  resignation  and  bravery  to  perfect 
heroism.  "  Before  they  would  surrender,"  says  the  conti- 
nuator  of  AVilliam  of  Tvre,  "  thev  sold  their  wives  and 
children  to  the  Saracens,  and  there  remained  not  an  animal 
in  the  castle  of  which  they  could  make  food."  They  were 
at  length,  however,  forc3d  to  yield  to  Saladin ;  tiie  sidtan 
granting  them  their  lives  and  their  liberty,  and  restoring  to 
them  their  wives  and  children,  vrhom  a  barbarous  heroism 
had  condemned  to  slavery. 

Throughout  his  conqui-sts,  Saladin  still  kept  Gruy  de  Lu- 
si«rnan  in  chains  :  but  when  he  became  master  of  Carac  and 
the  greater  part  of  Palestine,  he  at  lengtli  set  the  unfortunate 
king  of  Jerusalem  free,  after  having  made  him  swear  upon 
the  Grospel  to  renounce  his  kingdom  for  ever,  and  to  return 
to  Europe.  This  promise,  extorted  by  force,  could  not  be 
regarded  as  binding  in  a  war  in  which  fanaticism  set  at 


454!  HISTORY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

nouglit  the  power  of  an  oath,  on  the  one  side  or  the  other. 
Saladin  himself  never  entertained  an  idea  that  Guy  would 
keep  his  word ;  and  if  he  consented  to  liberate  him,  it  was 
doubtless  from  the  fear  that  a  more  able  prince  would  be 
chosen  in  his  place,  and  from  the  hope  that  his  presence 
would  bring  discord  among  the  Christians. 

Guy  was  scarcely  released  from  captivity,  when  he  made 
his  bishops  annul  the  oath  he  had  taken,  and  sought  ear- 
nestly for  an  opportunity  of  reconstructing  a  throne  upon 
which  fortune  had  for  a  moment  placed  him.  He  presented 
himself  in  vain  before  Tyre  ;  that  city  had  given  itself  up  to 
Conrad,  and  would  not  ackiiowledge  as  king  a  prince  who 
had  not  been  able  to  defend  his  own  states.  The  king  of 
Jerusalem  wandered  for  a  long  time  about  his  own  kingdom, 
accompanied  by  a  few  faithful  attendants,  and  at  length 
resolved  to  undertake  some  enterprise  that  should  draw 
attention,  and  unite  under  his  banners  the  warriors  who 
flocked  from  all  parts  of  Europe  to  the  assistance  of  the 
Holy  Land. 

Guy  laid  siege  to  Ptolemais,  which  had  surrendered  to 
Saladin  a  few  days  after  the  battle  of  Tiberias.  This  city, 
which  historians  call  by  turns  Acca,  Accon,  and  Acre,  was 
built  at  the  western  extremity  of  a  vast  plain.  The  Medi- 
terranean bathed  its  walls  ;  it  attracted,  by  the  commodious- 
ness  of  its  port,  the  navigators  of  Europe  and  Asia,  and 
deserved  to  reign  over  the  seas  with  the  city  of  Tyre,  which 
was  situated  not  far  from  it.  Deep  ditches  surrounded  the 
walls  on  the  land  side  ;  and,  at  equal  distances,  formidable 
towers  had  been  built,  among  which  was  conspicuous  The 
Cursed  Tower,  which  dominated  over  the  city  and  the  plain. 
A  dyke,  built  of  stone,  closed  the  part  towards  the  south, 
terminated  by  a  fortress,  erected  upon  an  isolated  rock  in 
the  midst  of  the  waves. 

The  plain  of  Ptolema'is  is  boimded  on  the  north  by  Mount 
Saron,  which  the  Latins  called  Scala  Tyrorum, — the  ladders  of 
the  T^-rians  ;  on  the  east  by  the  mountains  of  Galilee  ;  and 
on  the  south  by  Mount  Carmel,  which  stretches  into  the 
sea.  The  plain  is  intersected  towards  the  city  by  two  hills, 
— the  Turon,  or  the  Mountain  of  the  Worshipper,  and  the 
Mahameria,  or  the  Hill  of  the  Prophet.  Several  rivers  or 
torrents  descend  from  Mount  Saron  or  from  the  mountains 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  455 

of  Gralilee,  and  flow  impetuously  into  the  sea  at  a  short 
distance  from  Ptolemais.  The  most  considerable  of  these 
torrents  is  the  Belus,  which  discharges  itself  to  the  south  of 
the  city.  In  the  rainy  season  it  overflows  its  banks,  and 
forms  around  it  marshes  covered  with  rushes  and  reeds.  The 
other  torrents,  whose  beds  in  summer  present  nothing  but 
an  arid  sand,  overflow  in  winter  like  the  Belus.  Duriuo- 
several  months  of  the  year  a  great  part  of  the  plain  of 
Ptolemais  is  imder  water  ;  and  when  summer  comes  to  dry 
the  long-flooded  fields,  the  exhalations  corrupt  the  air  and 
spread  around  the  germs  of  epidemic  diseases. 

T^evertheless,  the  plains  of  Ptolemais  were  fertile  and 
smiling :  groves  and  gardens  covered  the  country  near  the 
city  ;  some  villages  arose  on  the  declivities  of  the  mountains, 
and  houses  of  pleasure  dotted  the  hills.  Religious  and 
profane  traditions  had  bestowed  names  upon  several  spots  in 
the  neighbourhood.  A  little  hill  reminded  travellers  of  the 
tomb  of  Memnon  ;  and  upon  Mount  Carmel  was  pointed  out 
the  retreat  of  Eli  and  Pythagoras,  Such  were  the  places 
that  were  soon  to  become  the  theatre  of  a  sanguinary  war, 
and  see  assembled  and  fighting  the  armies  of  Europe  and 
Asia. 

Guy  de  Lusignan  had  but  nine  thousand  men  when  he 
laid  siege  to  Ptolemais  ;  but  the  whole  West  was  preparing 
to  fly  to  the  defence  of  the  Holy  Land.  The  army  of  the 
Christians  soon  became  of  sufiicient  magnitude  to  excite 
serious  alarm  among  the  Saracens.  Erench,  English,  and 
Elemish  warriors  preceded  Philip  and  E-ichard,  luider  the 
command  of  Jacques  d' Avesnes,  one  of  the  greatest  captains 
of  his  time,  and  the  bishop  of  Beauvais,  brother  to  the  count 
of  Dreux.  The  Grenoese,  the  Venetians,  and  the  Pisans, 
with  the  greater  part  of  the  Crusaders  from  the  provinces  of 
Italy,  arrived  in  Palestine  under  the  orders  of  the  arch- 
bishops of  Pisa  and  Eavenna.  The  cries  of  alarm  of  the 
Christians  of  the  East  had  resounded  even  to  the  north  of 
Europe,  where  young  warriors  had  taken  up  arms  to  combat 
the  infidels.  All  the  nations  of  the  West  furnished  Jerusalem 
with  defenders,  and  eighty  thousand  Crusaders  attacked  the 
ramparts  of  Ptolemais,  whilst  the  powerful  monarchs  who 
had  placed  themselves  at  the  head  of  the  crusade,  were  still 
engaged  in  preparations  for  their  departure. 


456  HISTOET    OF    THE    CEU3ADES. 

vSaladiii,  who  had  at  first  despised  the  Christians,  now 
thought  it  prudent  to  gather  his  powers  together  to  oppose 
tliem.  After  assemhhng  his  army  at  Damascus,  he  crossed 
Anti-Libanus,  and  the  mountains  of  GaUlee,  and  encamped 
at  a  short  distance  from  Ptolemais.  He  pitched  his  tents 
and  pavilions  at  the  extremity  of  the  plain,  on  the  mountains 
of  Casan,  from  whence  he  could  overlook  all  the  sea-coast. 
On  one  side  his  army  extended  from  the  river  Belus,  and  on 
the  other  as  far  as  Jiahumeria,  or  the  Sill  of  the  ATosqiie. 
The  sultan  occupied  all  the  elevated  posts,  and  all  the 
passages  by  which  the  Christians  could  pass  out  from  the 
spot  upon  which  they  were  encamped.  Thus  the  besiegers 
were  besieged,  and  the  army  before  the  walls  of  the  city  saw 
the  banners  of  the  Mussulmans  floating  around  it. 

The  Christians  made  their  intrenchments,  dug  wide 
ditches,*  and  raised  towers  at  proper  distances  around  their 
camp,  in  order  to  repulse  the  attacks  of  Saladin  or  the  gar- 
rison of  Ptolemais.  The  Mussulman  army  had  scarcely 
pitched  its  tents  when  it  presented  itself  in  battle  array 
before  tlie  trenches  of  the  Crusaders,  and  fought  with  them 
several  combats,  in  which  victory  was  doubtful.  In  one  of 
these  conflicts  the  sultan  penetrated  to  the  city,  and  after 
haA^ing  ascertained  from  the  top  of  the  towers  the  position  of 
the  Crusaders,  he  joined  the  garrison  in  a  sortie,  and  sur- 
prised, and  drove  them  into  their  camp.  By  entering  into 
Ptolemais,  Saladin  revived  the  courage  of  the  inhabitants 
and  troops ;  he  arranged  measures  necessary  for  the  providing 
of  supplies,  he  left  them  some  of  his  chosen  warriors,  and 
gave  them  for  leaders  the  most  intrepid  of  his  emirs, 
^Uelchou,  the  faithful  companion  of  his  victories,  and 
Karacoush,t  whose    capacity  and  bravery  had  been  often 

*  The  chronicle  entitled  Historia  Hierosolymitana  relates  all  th;xt 
passed  in  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem  from  1177  to  the  siege  of  Ptoleniciis 
inclusively.  The  Chronicle  of  the  Holy  Land,  the  two  continviators  of 
William  of  Tyre,  Florent  and  the  bishop  of  Ptolemais,  give  some  parti- 
culars of  the  siege,  but  much  less  than  the  Arabian  historian>,  to  whom 
we  shall  often  have  recourse. 

t  Karacoush  was  the  first  minister  of  Saladin  in  Egvpt.  It  was  he 
who  caused  the  well  of  Joseph  to  be  dug,  built  the  citadel,  and  began  the 
inclosure  of  Cairo.  Karacoush  was  short  and  hump-backed.  His  name 
is  employed  now  in  Egypt  for  a  sort  of  Punchinello,  who  amuses  the 
people  in  the  streets,  in  whose  mouth  are  placed  abundance  of  obscenities. 


HISTORY    or   THE    CEUSADES.  457 

tried  during  the  conquest  of  Egypt.  The  sultan  then 
returned  to  his  camp,  prepared  to  combat  afresh  the  army  of 
the  Crusaders. 

The  roads  of  Galilee  were  covered  with  Mussulman 
soldiers  coming  from  Damascus ;  and  as  Saladin  looked 
daily  for  the  arrival  of  a  fleet  I'rom  Egypt,  which  would  make 
him  master  of  the  sea,  he  hoped  soon  to  be  able  to  triumph 
over  the  Christians,  and  deliver  Ptolemais.  A  few  days 
after  the  victory  he  had  gained,  a  great  number  of  vessels 
appeared  upon  the  sea,  directing  their  course  towards  the 
land.  Both  armies  Avere  filled  with  hope  and  joy,  the  Mus- 
sulmans believing  them  to  be  a  fleet  from  the  ports  of 
Damietta  and  Alexandria,  whilst  the  Crusaders  confidently 
hoped  them  to  be  a  Christian  armament  coming  to  their 
aid.  The  standard  of  the  cross  was  soon  seen  floating  from 
the  masts  of  the  vessels,  which,  whilst  it  excited  the  liveliest 
joy  in  the  Christians,  equally  depressed  the  Mussulmans. 
Two  fleets  from  western  ports  entered  the  Bead  of  Ptolemais. 
The  first  bore  the  German  Crusaders,  commanded  by  the 
duke  of  Gueldres  and  the  landgrave  of  Thuringia,  and  the 
other  the  warriors  of  Eriesland  and  Denmark,  who,  after 
having  fought  the  Saracens  in  Spain,  came  to  defend  the 
kingdom  of  Jerusalem.  Conrad,  marquis  of  Tyre,  could  not 
I'emain  idle  while  this  war  was  going  on  ;  he  armed  vessels, 
raised  troops,  and  united  his  forces  with  those  of  the 
Christian  army. 

The  arrival  of  the  new  reinforcements  restored  the  ardour 
of  the  Crusaders.  The  Christian  knights,  according  to  an 
Arabian  historian,*  covered  wdth  their  long  cuirasses  of  steel, 
looked,  from  a  distance,  like  serpents  spread  over  the  plain; 
when  they  flew  to  arms,  they  resembled  birds  of  prey,  and 
in  the  melee,  they  were  as  indomitable  lions.  In  a  council, 
several  emirs  proposed  to  Saladin  to  retire  before  an  enemy 
as  numerous,  they  said,  as  the  sands  of  the  sea,  more  \T.olent 
than  tempests,  and  more  impetuous  than  torrents. 

The   Christians,  encoiu*aged  by  the  reinforcements  that 

*  The  Arabian  historians  Chehabeddin,  the  author  of  the  Roudatains, 
Omad  of  Ispahan,  and  Bohaddin,  give  many  more  particulars  of  the 
siege  of  Ptolemais  than  the  Latin  historians.  These  three  Mussulmaa 
historians  ace  >inpanied  Saladin  in  all  his  expeditions. 


458  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES. 

continued  to  arrive  daily,  resolved  to  attack  Saladin,  and 
drive  him  beyond  the  mountains.  They  marched  out  from 
their  intrenchments,  and  di'ew  up  in  order  of  battle.  Their 
army  extended  from  the  moutli  of  the  Belus  to  the  hill  of 
Turon.  The  Crusaders,  full  of  zeal  and  ardour,  were  com- 
manded by  many  illustrious  captains,  among  vrhom  the 
grand  master  of  the  Templars,  the  marquis  of  Tyre,  the 
counts  of  Blois,  Bar,  and  Clermont,  ^^■ith  de  Brioude,  and 
Guy  and  Gauche  de  Chatillon,  were  conspicuous.  The 
clerg)'  even  appeared  in  arms ;  the  archbishops  of  Eavenna, 
Pisa,  Canterbiu*y,  Besancon,  Nazareth,  and  Montreal;  the 
bishops  of  Beauvais,  Salisbury,  Cambrai,  Ptolemais,  and 
Bethlehem,  assumed  the  helmet  and  cuii'ass,  and  led  warriors 
on  to  battle.  The  Christian  army  presented  so  redoubtable 
an  aspect,  and  appeared  so  full  of  confidence,  that  a  Chris- 
tian knight  cried  out,  in  the  height  of  his  enthusiasm: 
"  Let  God  remain  neuter,  and  the  victory  is  ours  /" 

The  king  of  Jerusalem,  who  caused  the  book  of  the 
Evangelists  to  be  borne  before  him,  wrapped  in  a  covering  of 
silk,  and  supported  by  four  knights,  commanded  the  right 
wing  ;  he  had  under  his  orders  the  French  and  the  Hos- 
pitallers ;  his  lines  extended  to  the  Belus.  The  Venetians, 
the  Lombards,  and  the  Syrians  formed  the  left  wing,  which 
was  flanked  bv  the  sea,  and  marched  under  the  banners  of 
Conrad.  The  centre  of  the  army  was  occupied  by  the 
Germans,  the  Pisans,  and  the  English,  headed  by  the  land- 
grave of  Thuringia.  The  grand  master  of  the  Templars, 
with  his  knights,  and  the  duke  of  Gueldres,  with  his  soldiers, 
formed  the  body  of  reserve  ready  to  hasten  wherever  danger 
or  the  chances  of  the  day  might  call  them.  The  guardian- 
ship of  the  camp  was  intrusted  to  Gerard  d'Avesnes  and 
Geofirev  de  Lusio:nan. 

AYhen  the  Christian  army  was  drawn  up  on  the  plain,  the 
Saracens  issued  from  their  intrenchments,  and  prepared  to 
sustain  the  shock  of  the  Crusaders.  Saladin  placed  himself 
vrith.  his  Mamelukes  in  the  centre :  his  nephew  Teki-eddin 
Omar,  one  of  his  most  skilful  lieutenants,  commanded  the 
right  wing,  which  extended  to  the  sea  at  the  north-east  of 
Ptolemais  ;  the  princes  of  Mossoui  and  Sandjar  commanded 
the  left  wing,  bearing  upon  the  river  Belus.  By  this  dis- 
position, Saladin  inclosed  the  Christians  between  the  river 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  459 

Belus  and  the  sea,  and  left  tliem  no  means  of  retreat  if  for- 
tune should  favour  his  arms. 

The  archers  and  cavalry  of  the  Christians  commenced  the 
conflict.  At  the  first  clmrge  they  broke  the  right  "vving  of 
the  Mussulmans,  commanded  by  the  nephew  of  Saladin. 
The  cavalry  and  infantry  of  the  marquis  of  Tyre  advanced 
upon  the  field  of  battle,  the  Saracens  giving  way  before 
them  as  they  proceeded.  Pursuing  the  enemy,  who  fled  in 
disorder,  the  Christians  ascended  the  hill  of  the  Mosque, 
and  planted  theii'  standards  in  the  camp  of  the  infidels.  The 
count  of  Bar  even  penetrated  to  the  tent  of  the  sultan, 
which  was  given  up  to  pillage.  An  Arabian  historian,*  who 
followed  the  army,  says  of  himself,  that  upon  beholding  the 
rout  of  the  Mussulmans,  he  took  to  flight,  and  did  not  stop 
till  he  came  to  Tiberias.  The  terror  was  so  great,  that 
several  Saracens  fled  as  far  as  Damascus.  Saladin  remained 
almost  alone  upon  the  field  of  battle,  and  was  several  times 
in  great  danger.f 

Followed  by  a  few  of  his  faithful  IMamelukes,  he  en- 
deavoured to  rally  his  scattered  forces,  and  at  length  suc- 
ceeded in  reviving  their  courage.  No  sooner  had  he  the 
means  of  support,  than  he  returned  to  the  fight  with  cha- 
racteristic energy,  rushing  down  upon  the  Christians,  whom 
he  surprised  in  all  the  disorder  of  victory.  The  Mussulman 
cavalry  now  charged  in  their  turn,  and  dispersed  the  cavalry 
of  the  Franks.  The  different  bodies  of  the  Christian  army- 
became  soon  separated  from  one  another,  and  in  vain  en- 
deavoured to  rally  in  their  flight.  The  grand  master  of  the 
Templars  then  advanced  with  the  reserve,  to  support  the 

*  This  (lay  I  was  among  the  holy  men,  and  I  was  upon  the  hill  with 
them,  looking  at  the  tight,  and  watching  for  what  would  happen  to  the 
enemy.  We  had  no  idea  that  the  battle  would  reach  us  ;  but  when  the 
enemy  became  mingled  with  us,  we  mounted  on  our  mules,  without  any 
warlike  equipments,  and  seeing  that  all  the  army  had  turned  their  backs, 
we  fled  away.  We  reached  Tiberias,  with  others  who  had  taken  the  same 
road.  Every  one  of  us  had  forgotten  to  either  eat  or  drink.  Other 
fugitives  went  as  far  as  Damascus  without  stopping  on  their  way,  con- 
stantly pursued  by  fear. — Chehaheddin. 

t  The  author  of  the  Roudatains  says  that  one  thousand  Mussulman 
horsemen  were  all  that  maintained  and  recovered  the  battle.  Saladin, 
adds  the  same  author,  remained  alone  upon  the  field,  and  angels  defended 
him. 

21* 


460  liisTony  of  the  ceusades. 

troops  that  fled,  but  lie  met  tlie  ^lussulman  cavalry  in  full 
career,  that  crushed  evervthing  in  their  passage.  The  re- 
sen-e  was  broken  at  the  first  shock ;  they  returned  several 
times  to  the  charge,  but  ^vithout  being  able  tp  stand  against 
the  impetuosity  of  the  Saracen  horsemen.  On  all  sides, 
victory  was  escaping  from  the  hands  of  the  Crusaders, 
terror  pervaded  the  whole  Christian  army,  and  disorder  and 
confusion  reisrued  everywhere.  TThilst  the  left  wlug'  was 
put  to  flight,  and  the  body  of  reserve  was  makmg  vam 
efibrts  to  check  the  Mussulmans,  the  right  wing  and  the 
centre  were  attacked  not  only  by  the  princes  of  Aleppo, 
Mossoul,  and  Sandjar,  with  Teki-eddin  Omar,  but  by  tlie 
garrison  of  Ptolemais,  which  issued  frora  the  city  in  order 
of  battle. 

The  Saracens  made  a  most  hon-ible  slaughter ;  every  part 
of  the  Christian  army  was  broken  and  put  to  flight,  and 
ntter  destruction  threatened  them  if  then*  camp  should  fall 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  conquerors  proceeded  at 
once  to  the  attack  of  the  iutrenchments,  but  the  height  of 
the  walls,  the  depth  of  the  ditches,  and  the  bravery  of 
Geoflrey  de  Liisignan  and  Jacques  d'Avesnes,*  stopped  the 
Mussubnan  cavalry,  and  preserved  the  last  asylum  of  the 
Christian  army. 

During  the  contest,  Saladin  appears  to  have  been  every- 
where at  once  :  after  having  re-established  the  battle  in  his 
right  wing,  he  returned  to  the  centre,  and  thence  passed  to 
the  left.  Ten  times  he  crossed  the  lines  of  the  Christians, 
and  himself  directed  every  charsre  of  his  cavalry.  The  battle 
lasted  duriug  the  whole  day  ;  in  the  evening,  still  many 
combats  were  kept  np  around  the  camp  of  the  Christians, 
and  night  aloue  brought  repose  to  the  two  annies.  As  the 
Mussulmans  and  Christians  had  by  turns  been  victors,  the 
loss  was  equal  on  both  sides.  The  Crusaders  had  to  deplore 
the  death  of  several  of  their  leaders  ;  the  grand  master  of 
the  Templars,  covered  with  wounds,  was  made  prisoner  on 
the  field  of  battle,  and  led  to  the  camp  of  the  infidels.  The 
emirs  reproached  him  with  ha\'ing  taken  up  arms  against 
Saladin,  who  had  generously  broken  his    chains  after  the 

*  Our  author  before  mentions  Gerard  d'Avesnes  as  left  in  charge  of 
the  camp  ;  but  T  am  not  sufficiently  certain  there  were  not  two  of  tha 
name  to  alter  the  text. — Trans. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  461 

battle  of  Tiberias.  He  replied  with  haughty  firmness,  and 
received  the  palm  of  martyrdom.  Andre  de  Brienne  \Yas 
cast  from  his  horse  whilst'  endeavouring  to  rally  the  Cru- 
saders He  in  vain  implored  assistance  of  his  compamons, 
whom  fear  rendered  deaf  to  pity,  and  Erard  de  Brienne, 
whilst  precipitating  his  flight,  trampled  under  his  horse  s 
feet  his  brother,  expiring  on  the  field  of  battle. 

The  Latin  historians  attribute  the  defeat  of  the  Crusaders 
to  an  unexpected  accident,*  which  threw  the  combatants  into 
disorder.t  An  Arabian  horse,  which  had  been  taken  from 
the  enemy,  escaping  in  the  heat  of  the  battle,  was  pursued  by 
some  soMiers,  and  it  was  believed  they  were  flying  belore 
the  Saracens.  All  at  once  a  rumour  prevailed  that  the 
Christian  army  was  conquered  and  dispersed,  and  this 
news  redoubled  the  tumult,  and  gave  birth  to  general 
terror.  T^Tiole  battaUons,  seized  with  a  panic,  abandoned 
their  triumphant  banners,  and  sought  safety  m  a  precipitate 

flight.  X      -u       ^1, 

We  only  report  this  singular  circumstance  to  show  ttie 
spirit  of  the  contemporary  chronicles.  The  fate  of  the  battle 
micrht  be  much  better  explained  by  saying  that  the  Christian 
soldiers  abandoned  the  fight  for  the  sake  of  plunder  ;  and 
that  the  greater  part  of  the  leaders,  less  skilful  than  brave, 
neither  knew  how  to  prevent  or  repair  the  reverses  to  which 
an  undisciplined  armv  must  be  exposed. 

In  the  plain  of  Ptolemais,  trod  by  two  hundred  thousand 
warriors,  on  the  morrow  was  only  to  be  seen,  to  employ  an 
Oriental  image,  birds  of  prey  and  wolves  attracted  by  the 
scent  of  carnage  and  death.  The  Christians  did  not  dare 
to  leave  their  intrenehments,  and  victory  itself  could  not 
reassure  Saladin,  who  had  seen  his  whole  army  put  to  flight. 
The  most  frightful  disorder  prevailed  m  the  camp  oi  the 
Saracens ;  the  slaves  had  pillaged  it  at  the  commencement 
of  the  battle,  and  had  fled,  carrying  away  the  booty  that 
escaped  the  hands  of  the  Crusaders.     Both  the  emu^s  and 

*  This  accident  of  a  loose  horse  is  related  by  the  anonymous  author  of 
the  History  of  Jerusalem  {Historia  Hierosolymitana). 

t  The  Arabian  historians  say  that  a  horse  escaped  from  a  vessel,  and 
was  pursued  ;  he  threw  himself  among  the  Mussulmans,  who  presented 
him  to  Saladin,  which  was  considered  an  evil  presage.— See  Chehabeddim, 
the  historian  of  Saladin. 


462  uisTOiir  of  the  ckusades. 

soldiers  had  lost  their  baggage ;  some  pursued  the  fugitive 
slaves,  whilst  others  addressed  their  complaints  to  Saladin. 
Amidst  such  confusion  and  tumult,  it  was  impossible  for 
the  sultan  to  follow  up  the  advantage  he  had  gained,,  and  as 
winter  was  approaching,  and  the  Mussulmans  were  short  of 
provisions,  he  abandoned  the  plain,  and  retned  to  the  moun- 
tain Karouba. 

The  Christians,  who  now  remained  masters  of  the  plain, 
extended  their  lines  over  the  whole  chain  of  hills  that  sur- 
rounded the  city  of  Ptolemais  ;  the  marquis  of  Montferrat, 
with  his  troops,  the  Venetians,  the  Pisans,  and  the  Crusaders 
commanded  by  the  archbishop  of  Eavenna  and  the  bishop  of 
Pisa,  encamped  towards  the  north,  and  occupied  ground 
from  the  sea  to  the  road  to  Damascus.  Xear  the  camp  of 
Conrad,  the  Hospitallers  pitched  their  tents,  in  a  valley 
which  had  belonged  to  them  before  the  taking  of  Ptolemais 
by  the  Saracens.  The  Genoese  occupied  the  hill  which  con- 
temporary historians  call  Mount  IMusard.  The  French  and 
English,  who  were  in  front  of  the  Cursed  Tower,  were  placed 
in  the  centre,  imder  the  orders  of  the  counts  of  Dreux, 
Blois,  and  Clermont,  and  the  archbishops  of  Besan9on  and 
Canterbury.  Close  to  the  camp  of  the  French  floated  the 
banners  of  the  Flemings,  commanded  by  the  bishop  of  Cam- 
brai,  and  Pavmond  II.,  viscount  de  Turenne. 

Gruy  de  Lusignan  encamped  with  his  soldiers  and  knights 
upon  the  hill  of  Turon,  which  part  of  the  camp  served  as 
citadel  and  head-quarters  to  the  whole  army.  The  king  of 
Jerusalem  had  with  him  the  queen  Sibylla,  his  two  brothers 
G-eoffrey  and  Aimar,  Humphrey  de  Theron,  the  husband  of 
the  second  daughter  of  Amaury,  the  patriarch  Heraclius, 
and  the  clergv  of  the  holv  city.  The  viscount  de  Chatel- 
lerault,  who  was  of  the  same  country  as  Guy  de  Lusignan, 
ranged  himself  imder  the  standard  of  the  king  of  Jerusalem. 
The  knights  of  the  Temple,  and  the  troop  of  Jacques 
d'Avesnes,  fixed  their  quarters  between  the  hill  of  Turon 
and  the  Belus,  and  guarded  the  road  that  led  from  Ptolemais 
to  Jerusalem.  On  the  south  of  the  Belus  stood  the  tents 
of  the  Germans,  the  Danes,  and  the  Prisons  :  these  northern 
warriors,  commanded  by  the  landgrave  of  Thuringia  and  the 
duke  of  Gueldi'es,  were  placed  along  the  shore  of  the  Eoad 


HISTORY    OF    TUE    CEUSADES.  463 

of  Ptolemais,  and  protected  the  disembarkation  of  the  Chris- 
tians who  arrived  from  Europe  by  aea. 

Such  was  the  disposition  of  the  Christian  anny  belore  Ptole- 
niais,  and  this  order  was  preserved  during  the  whole  siege. 
The  Christians  dug  ditches  on  the  dechvities  of  the  hills  whose 
heights  they  occupied  ;  they  raised  high  walls  round  their 
quarters,  and  their  camps  were  so  inclosed,  says  an  Arabian 
historian,  that  the  birds  could  scarcely  find  entrance.  _  All  the 
torrents  which  fell  from  the  neighbouring  mountains  over- 
flowed their  banks,  and  covered  the  plain  with  their  waters ; 
and  the  Crusaders,  having  nothing  to  fear  from  surprise  by  the 
army  of  Saladin,  prosecuted  the  siege  without  intermission. 
Their  machines  battered  the  walls  night  and  day,  and  with 
each  morning  their  assaults  were  renewed.      The  garrison, 
which  opposed  them  with  obstinate  bravery,  could  not  much 
longer  defend  itself  without  the  aid  of  the  IMussulman  army. 
Every  day  pigeons  bearing  letters  under  their  wings,  and 
divers,  who  threw  themselves  into  the  sea,  were  sent  to  warn 
Saladin  of  the  imminent  dangers  of  Ptolemais. 

At  the  approach  of  spring,  several  Mussulman  princes  of 
Mesopotamia  and  Svria  came  to  range  themselves  and  then- 
troops  under  the   standards  of  the  sultan.     Then  Saladm 
quitted  the  mountain  of  Karouba,  and  his  army  descending 
towards   the  plain  of   Ptolemais,   defiled   m   sight   ot   the 
Christians,  with  colours   spread  and  drums  and  trumpets 
sounding.     The  Crusaders  had  soon  fresh  contests  to  main- 
tain.    The  ditches  they  had  dug,,  to  employ  the  expression 
of  a  Mussulman  historian,  became  their  own  sepulchres,  and 
were  often  fiUed  with  their  dead  bodies.     The  hopes  they 
had  fondly  entertained  of  getting  possession  of  the  city, 
vanished  at  the  sight  of  such  formidable  enemies.     They  had 
constructed  during  the  winter  three  rolling  towers,  similar 
to  those  which  Godfrev    of  Bouillon  had  erected   at  the 
takino-  of  Jerusalem,      these  three  towers  arose  above  the 
walls°of  Ptolemais,  and  threatened  the  city  with  destruction. 
Whilst  the  Crusaders  were  engaged  in  repelling  the  attacks 
of  Saladin,   inflamed   arrows  and  pots  filled  with  burning 
naphtha  were  hiu4ed  on  their  machines,  that  were  left  unpro- 
tected at  the  foot  of  the  ramparts.     All  at  once  the  Chris- 
tians saw  flames  arise  in  the  air,  and  their  wooden  towers, 


464  niSTOEY  or  the  crusades. 

seized  upon  by  au  unextinguishable  fire,  were  consumed  and 
reduced  to  ashes  before  their  eyes,  as  if  they  liad  been  struck 
by  the  lightning  of  heaA'en.  So  gi'eat  was  the  t€rror  spread 
among  the  Crusaders  by  this  conflagration,  that  the  land- 
gi'ave  of  Thuringia  quitted  the  siege  and  returned  to  Europe, 
belie\'ing  that  God  no  longer  protected  the  cause  of  the 
Christians. 

Saladin  followed  up  his  attacks  so  incessantly,  that  he  left 
his  enemv  no  repose.  Every  time  that  an  assault  was 
attempted  on  the  city,  the  noise  of  drums  and  trumpets 
resounded  from  the  ramparts  to  warn  the  Mussulman  troops, 
who  then  flew  to  arms  and  attacked  the  camp  of  the  Chns- 
tians. 

The  Eoad  of  Ptolema'is  was  often  covered  with  vessels  from 
Eui'ope,  and  Mussulman  vessels  from  the  ports  of  Egypt  and 
Sp'ia.  The  latter  brought  supplies  to  the  city^  and  the 
former  to  the  Christian  army.  At  a  distance  might  be  seen 
masts  sui'mounted  with  the  standards  of  the  cross,  and 
others  bearing  the  banners  of  Mahomet,  which  seemed  to 
mingle  and  float  together.  Several  times  the  Franks  and 
Saracens  were  spectators  of  the  conflicts  between  their  fleets 
laden  with  arms  and  provisions,  that  took  place  near  the 
shore.  At  the  sight  of  a  naval  combat  the  warriors  of  the 
cross  and  of  Mahomet  struck  upon  their  shields,  and 
announced  by  their  cries  their  hopes  and  their  fears.  Some- 
times even  the  two  armies  were  so  excited  as  to  attack  each 
other  on  the  plain  to  assure  the  victory,  or  avenge  the  defeat 
of  those  who  had  fought  upon  the  waves. 

In  the  battles  that  took  place  sometimes  on  the  banks 
of  the  Belus,  and  sometimes  under  the  walls  or  at  the  foot 
of  the  hills,  the  Saracens  often  prepared  ambushes,  and  did 
nqt  disdain  to  have  recourse  to  all  the  stratagems  of  war. 
The  Christians,  on  the  contrary,  placed  no  confidence  in 
anything  but  theii*  valour  and  their  own  good  swords.  A 
car.  upon  which  was  raised  a  tower,  surmounted  by  a  cross 
and  a  white  flag,  served  them  as  a  rallying-point,  and 
was  their  guiding  star  in  battle.  AMien  the  enemy  gave 
way,  the  thirst  for  booty  soon  made  every  man  quit  the 
ranks  ;  their  chiefs,  almost  always  -u-ithout  authority  in  the 
tumult  of  battle,  became  no  more  than  simple  soldiers  in  the 
meUe,  and  had  nothing  to  oppose  to  the  enemy  but  their 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  4)65 

Bword  and  lance.  Saladin,  more  respected  by  his  troops, 
commanded  a  disciplined  army,  and  often  profited  by  the 
disorder  and  confusion  of  the  Christians  to  combat  them 
'with  advantage  and  snatch  a  victor}-.  Every  battle  began  at 
sunrise,  and  the  Christians  were  generally  conquerors  up 
to  the  middle  of  the  dav  :  but  when  even  thev  had  invaded 
and  partly  plundered  tbe  camp  of  the  Mussulmans,  and  at 
evening  returned  home  loaded  with  booty,  they  were  almost 
sure  to  find  their  o^^m  camp  had  been  broken  into  by  the 
troops  of  Saladin  or  the  garrison. 

Alter  the  sultan's  descent  from  the  mountain  of  Karouba, 
an  Egyptian  fleet  entered  the  port  of  Ptolemais.  At  the 
same  time  Saladin  welcomed  to  his  camp  his  brother  Malec- 
Adel,  who  brought  with  him  troops  raised  in  Egvpt.  This 
double  reinforcement  revived  the  courage  of  the  Mussulmans, 
but  they  did  not  long  profit  by  these  advantages,  and  the 
hope  of  conquering  the  Christians  began  to  give  way  to  the 
most  serious  alarms.  A  report  was  spread  throughout  the 
East  that  t^e  emperor  of  G-ermany  had  quitted  Europe  at 
the  head  of  a  numerous  army,  and  was  advancing  towards 
Syria.  Saladin  sent  troops  to  meet  such  a  formidable 
enemy,  and  several  Mussulman  princes  quitted  the  sultan's 
armv  to  defend  their  own  states,  which  were  menaced  bv  the 
Crusaders  coming  from  the  AVest.  Ambassadors  were  sent 
to  the  caliph  of  Bagdad,  the  princes  of  Africa  and  Asia,  and 
to  the  Mussulman  powers  of  Spain,  to  engage  them  to  unite 
their  eflbrts  against  the  enemies  of  Islamism.  AMiilst  terror 
thus  took  possession  of  the  Saracens,  the  Crusaders  conceived 
fresh  hopes,  and  redoubled  their  eiforts  to  gain  possession  of 
Ptolemais  before  the  arrival  of  the  Germans.  After  several 
contests,  they  resolved  to  make  one  last  attempt  to  drive  the 
Mussulman  armv  bevond  the  mountains.  Mai'chins:  from 
their  camp,  they  presented  themselves  in  order  of  battle 
before  the  Saracens.  The  Mussulman  historians  compare 
their  multitude  to  that  which  ^viU  assemble  at  the  last  dav  in 
the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat. 

At  the  first  signal,  the  two  armies  approached,  mingled, 
and  soon  appeared  nothing  but  one  horrible,  contending  mass. 
Arrows  hissed  tlirough  the  air,  lances  crossed,  and  the  rapid 
blows  of  sabres  and  swords  resounded  from  the  bucklers  and 
steel  casques.     The  Christian  knights  seemed  animated  with 


466  HISTORY    OF    THE    Cia'SADES. 

an  invincible  ardoui'.  The  Templars  and  Hospitallers  carried 
death  wherever  they  directed  their  course ;  S>Tians  and 
Franks,  foot-soldiers  and  horsemen,  contended  for  the  prize 
of  valour,  and  rushed  together  to  meet  peril  and  find  ^'ictorT 
or   death.     The   ^Mussulman  armv   could   not   resist   their 

•  

impetuosity',  and  at  the  first  charge  retired  in  disorder.  The 
plains  and  hills  were  covered  with  Saracen  warriors,  who  fled, 
throwins:  awav  their  arms.  Victory  remained  with  the 
Chi'istians  :  but  soon  the  thii^st  of  bootv  led  them  to  abandon 
their  ranks,  and  the  face  of  the  battle  was  changed.  The 
Mussulmans  had  time  to  rally,  and  returned  to  surprise  the 
conquerors,  who  were  pillaging  the  tent  and  camp  of  the 
sultan.  All  at  once  the  Christians  were  surrounded  on 
every  side ;  and  havino;  laid  down  their  arms  in  their 
eagerness  for  booty,  could  not  defend  themselves,  but 
were  seized  by  a  terror  like  that  \s"ith  which  they  had 
inspired  their  enemies.  The  Mussulmans,  irritated  by  their 
defeat,  immolated  to  their  vengeance  every  Christian  that 
fell  in  their  way.  Such  of  the  Crusaders  a§  were  most 
gi'eedy  of  plimder,  lost  their  lives,  together  with  the  spoils 
vrith  which  thev  were  loaded,  and  were  slauo;htered  without 
defence  in  the  very  tents  they  had  invaded.  "  The  enemies 
of  God,"  says  Bohaheddin,  "  dared  to  enter  into  the  camp  of 
the  lions  of  Islamism  ;  but  they  experienced  the  terrible 
effects  of  divine  ^^Tath.  They  fell  beneath  the  sword  of  the 
Mussulmans  as  leaves  fall  in  autumn,  under  the  gusts  of  the 
tempest.  The  earth  was  covered  with  their  bodies,  heaped 
one  upon  another,  like  lopped  branches  which  fill  the  valleys 
and  hills  in  a  forest  that  has  been  cut  down."  Another 
Arabian  historian  speaks  thus  of  tliis  bloody  battle  : — '"  The 
Christians  ftll  under  the  swords  of  the  conquerors,  as  the 
wicked  will  fall  into  the  abode  of  fire  at  the  last  day.  Nine 
ranks  of  dead  covered  the  ground  between  the  hill  and  the 
sea,  and  each  rank  was  of  a  thousand  warriors." 

AVhilst  the  Chrisrians  were  being  conquered  and  dispersed, 
the  garrison  of  Ptolema'is  made  a  sortie ;  and,  penetrating 
into  their  camp,  carried  oft'  a  great  number  of  women  and 
children  that  were  left  xs-ithout  defence.  The  Crusaders, 
whom  night  saved  from  destrucrion,  returned  to  their  camp, 
deploring  their  double  defeat.  The  sight  of  their  plun- 
dered tents  and  the  losses  they  had  experienced,  qidte  de- 


niSTORT   OF    THE    CRUSADES.  467 

presseo  their  courage  ;  and  the  death  of  Frederick  Barba- 
rossa,  with  the  disasters  of  the  German  army,  of  ^Yhich  they 
^\"ere  soon  informed,  appeared  to  fill  up  their  cup  of  wretched- 
ness. The  despair  of  the  leaders  was  so  great  that  they 
determined  to  return  to  Europe,  and,  in  order  to  secure  their 
departure,  were  seeking  to  obtain  a  disgraceful  peace  of 
Saladin,  wlien  a  fleet  arrived  in  the  Eoad  of  Ptolemais,  and 
landed  a  great  number  of  Prench,  English,  and  Italians, 
commanded  by  Henry,  count  of  Champagne. 

Once  more  hope  was  restored  to  the  Crusaders ;  the 
Christians  were  again  masters  of  the  sea,  and  might,  in 
their  turn,  make  Saladin  tremble,  who  had  believed  he  had 
nothing  more  to  dread  from  them.  They  renewed  their 
attacks  upon  tlie  city  with  spirit.  The  count  of  Cham- 
pagne, who  had  restored  abundance  to  the  camp,  caused  to 
be  constructed,  at  great  expense,  rams  of  a  prodigious  size, 
with  two  enormous  towers  composed  of  wood,  steel,  iron, 
and  brass.  These  machines  are  said  to  have  cost  fifteen 
hundred  pieces  of  gold.  Whilst  these  formidable  auxiliaries 
menaced  the  ramparts,  the  Christians  mounted  several  times 
to  the  assault,  and  were,  more  than  once,  on  the  point  of 
planting  the  standard  of  the  cross  on  the  walls  of  the 
infidels. 

But  the  besieged  contiiuied  to  repulse  them,  and  the 
Mussulmans  shut  up  in  the  city  supported  the  horrors  of  a 
long  siege  with  heroic  firmness.  The  emirs  Karacoush  and 
Melchoub  were  unremitting  in  their  endeavours  to  keep  up 
the  courage  of  their  soldiers.  Vigilant,  present  everywhere, 
sometimes  employing  force,  and  as  often  stratagem,  they 
allowed  no  opportunity  of  surprising  the  Christians  to 
escape,  or  to  render  their  attacks  abortive.  The  Mussul- 
mans burnt  all  the  machines  of  the  besiegers,  and  made 
several  sorties,  in  which  they  drove  the  Christians  to  the 
security  of  their  camp. 

The  garrison  received  daily  reinforcements  and  provisions 
by  sea;  sometimes  barks  stole  along  the  shore,  and  got 
into  Ptolemais  under  tlie  favour  of  night ;  at  others,  vessels 
from  Berytus,  manned  by  apostate  Christians,  hoisted  the 
white  flag  with  a  red  cross,  and  thus  deceived  the  vigilance 
of  the  besiegers.  The  Crusaders,  to  prevent  all  communi- 
cation by  sea,  resolved  to  get  possession  of  the  Tower  of  the 


4G8  KISTOEY    OE    THE    CKrSAJ)ZS. 

Spies,  wliicli  overlooked  and  dominated  tlie  port  of  Ptoie- 
mais.  A  vessel,  upon  which  was  placed  a  wooden  tower, 
advanced  towards  the  fort  thev  wished  to  attack,  whilst  a 
bark  tilled  with  combustible  matters,  to  which  fire  had  been 
set.  was  laimched  into  the  port  among  the  ^lussulmau  fleet. 
Evervthing  seemed  to  promise  success  to  this  attempt,  when, 
all  at  once,  the  wind  changed,  and  drove  the  blazing  fire-ship 
full  upon  the  wooden  tower,  which  was  rapidly  consumed  by 
the  flames.  The  duke  of  Austria,  who  commanded  this 
perilous  expedition,  followed  by  several  of  the  bravest  of  his 
warriors,  had  mounted  the  tower  of  the  infidels  sword  in 
liand ;  but  at  the  sight  of  the  conflagration  which  was 
devourins:  the  vessel  he  came  on,  he  cast  himself  into  the 
sea,  covered  with  his  own  blood  and  that  of  the  Saracens, 
and  2:ained  the  shore  almost  alone. 
•  "Whilst  the  duke  of  Austria  attacked  the  tower,  the  army 
left  their  camp  to  make  an  assault  upon  the  city.  The 
besiegers  performed  prodigies  of  valour  without  success,  and 
were  obliged  to  return  in  haste  to  defend  their  own  tents, 
underscoing  fire  and  pillage  by  the  army  of  Saladin. 

It  was  amidst  this  double  defeat  that  Frederick,  duke  of 
Swabia,  arrived  under  the  walls  of  Ptolemais  with  five 
thousand  men,  the  deplorable  remains  of  a  numerous  army. 
When  the  Christians  in  Syria  had  heard  of  the  preparations 
of  the  Grermans,  their  invincible  powers  were  the  theme  of 
ever\'  tonsfue,  and  the  Crusaders  before  Ptolemais  were 
animated  by  the  most  sangidne  expectations  ;  but  when 
they  arrived,  and  related  the  disasters  they  had  undergone, 
their  presence  spread  mourning  and  depression  throughout 
the  army. 

Frederick  wished  to  sisTialize  his  arrival  bv  an  attack 
upon  the  Saracens.  "  The  Christians,"  say  the  Arabian 
writers,  "  issued  from  their  camp  like  ants  swarming  to 
their  prey,  and  covered  the  valleys  and  hills."  They 
attacked  the  advanced  post  of  the  Mussulman  army,  en- 
camped upon  the  heights  of  Aiadhiat,  not  far  from  the 
mountains  of  Galilee.  Saladin,  whom  a  serious  illness  pre- 
vented from  mounting  on  horseback,  caused  himself  to  be 
carried  to  Mount  Karouba,  from  whence  he  could  overlook 
all  that  went  on,  and  issue  his  orders.  The  Christians 
renewed  their  attacks  several  times  without  producing  any 


HISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  469 

effect  upon  their  enemies  ;  and  after  having-  fought  the  whole 
day,  they  renounced  the  hope  of  a  triumph,  and  returned  to 
their  camp,  \Yhere  the  famine,  which  was  beginnmg  to  be 
severely  felt,  allowed  them  nothing  wherewith  to  recruit 
their  exhausted  strength. 

Every  leader  of  this  multitude  of  Crusaders  was  obliged 
to  feed  the  troops  that  he  commanded,  and  they  at  no 
thne  were  possessed  of  more  than  provisions  for  one  week. 
"When  a  Christian  fleet  arrived,  they  enjoyed  abundance  ;  but 
when  no  vessels  appeared  for  a  time,  they  were  destitute  of 
the  commonest  necessaries  of  life.  As  winter  approached, 
and  the  sea  became  more  stormy,  \\ant  was  necessarily 
proportionately  increased. 

"When  the  Crusaders  made  incursions  upon  neighbouring 
lands  to  procure  provisions,  they  fought  amidst  the  ambus- 
cades of  the  Saracens.  Animated  by  despair,  they  several 
times  attacked  the  enemy  in  their  intrenchments,  but  were 
always  repulsed.  At  length  famine  began  to  make  frightful 
ravages  in  the  Cliristian  army ;  a  measure  of  flour,  that 
weighed  two  hundi'ed  and  fifty  pounds,  was  sold  for  ninety- 
six  crowns,  a  sum  so  exorbitant  that  not  even  princes  could 
pay  it.  The  leaders  insisted  upon  fixing  the  prices  of  all 
provisions  brought  to  the  camp ;  the  venders  then  hid  them 
in  the  earth,  and  the  scarcity  was  increased  by  the  very 
measures  adopted  to  lessen  it.*  The  Crusaders  v/ere  obliged 
to  feed  upon  their  horses  ;  next  they  devoured  leather, 
harness,  and  old  skins,  which  were  sold  for  their  weight  in 
gold.  Many  Christians,  driven  from  their  camp  by  famine, 
took  refuge  in  that  of  Saladin ;  some  embraced  Islamism  to 
obtain  relief  in  their  misery ;  whilst  others,  going  on  board 


*  Florentinus,  bishop  of  Ptolemais,  relates,  that  when  the  famine  began 
to  reign  among  the  besiegers,  to  put  a  check  upon  the  greediness  of  those 
who  sold  provisions  at  too  high  a  price — 

Barones  constituunt  uno  prorsus  ore 
Ut  deiitur  cibaria  precio  minore. 
Sed  enornovissimus  pejor  fit  priore 
Dum  non  audent  vendere  coiisueto  more. 
Non  enim  tiim  cibaria  inveniuntur 
Per  forum  venalia  ;  sed  effodiuntur 
Paviraenta,  domini  recluduntur. 
Sic  inops  et  locuples  famem  patiuntur. 


470  HISTOET    or    THE    CEUSADES. 

^Mussulman  vessels,  and  braving  the  perils  of  the  sea,  went 
to  pillage  the  isle  of  Cyprus  and  the  coasts  of  S}Tia. 

Durins;  the  rainy  season  the  waters  covered  the  plains, 
and  the  Crusaders  remained  crowded  together  on  the  hills. 
The  carcasses  left  on  the  banks  of  the  rivers,  or  cast  into 
the  torrents,  exhaled  a  pestilential  odour,  and  contagious 
diseases  Avere  verv  soon  added  to  the  horrors  of  famine. 
The  camp  was  filled  with  mourning  and  funeral  rites ;  from 
two  to  three  hundred  pilgrims  were  buried  daily.  Several 
of  the  most  illustrious  leaders  found  in  contasdon  the  death 
thev  had  so  often  braved  in  the  field  of  battle.  Frederick, 
duke  of  Swabia,  died  in  his  tent,  after  haATug  escaped  aU  the 
perils  of  war.  His  unhappy  companions  in  arms  gave  tears 
to  his  memory,  and,  despairing  of  the  cause  of  the  Chris- 
tians, for  wliich  thev  had  suffered  so  much,  returned  to  the 
"\^>st. 

To  complete  their  misfortune,  Sibylla,  the  wife  of  Gruy  de 
Lusignan,  died,  with  her  two  children,  and  her  death  gave  rise 
to  fresh  discord.  Isabella,  second  dauo;hter  of  Amaurv,  and 
sister  to  Queen  Sibylla,  was  heir  to  the  throne  of  Jeru- 
salem ;  consequently  Humphrey  de  Thoron,  the  husband  of 
this  princess,  immediately  asserted  her  rights.  On  the 
other  side,  Guv  de  Lusisfuan  could  not  consent  to  abandon 
his,  and  maintained  that  the  character  of  king  was  indelible  ; 
no  one  had  the  right  to  deprive  him  of  a  crown  he  had  once 
worn.  Amidst  these  disputes,  Conrad,  already  master  of 
Tvre,  was  all  at  once  seized  ^ith  the  ambition  of  reisTiins: 
over  Jerusalem  and  Palestine ;  he  succeeded  in  gaining 
the  love  of  Isabella,  induced  the  council  of  bishops  to  dis- 
solve the  marriage  of  Humphrey,  and,  although  himself 
married  to  the  sister  of  the  Emperor  Isaac,  espoused  the 
sister  and  heiress  of  Baldwin,  determined  to  defend  with 
the  sword  the  rights  which  this  new  union  gave  him. 

The  Christians,  though  plunged  in  such  horrible  misery, 
and  at  the  same  time  coustantlv  menaced  bv  Saladin,  were 
entirely  engaged  by  the  pretensions  of  the  two  rival  princes. 
Humphrey,  who  defended  his  rights  very  weakly,  was  in 
great  dread  of  the  threats  of  Coni-ad,  and  was  wise  enough 
31  't  to  regret  a  sceptre  which  he  must  win,  or  a  wife  who 
had  abandoned  him.  He  renounced  all  his  claims,  and 
would  have  been  happy  if  liis  docility  had  restored  unaui- 


HISTORY    or    TnE    CRUSADES.  471 

mity ;  but  there  remained  still  two  kings  for  an  invaded,  or 
rather  a  nominal  kingdom,  and  the  two  factions  divided  the 
army.  Some  were  touched  by  the  misfortunes  of  Guy,  and 
declared  themselves  his  partisans;  whilst  others,  admiring 
the  bravery  of  Conrad,  thought  the  kingdom  shoidd  fall 
to  him  who  was  most  capable  of  defending  it.  Guy  was 
reproached  with  having  fostered  the  power  of  Saladin ;  the 
marquis  of  T3're,  on  the  contrary,  was  praised  for  having 
preserved  the  only  two  cities  that  remained  in  the  power  of 
the  Franks :  he  alone,  they  added,  could  fiu^nish  the  Chris- 
tians with  provisions,  and  put  an  end  to  the  famine  which 
was  consuming  them. 

Not  one  of  the  Crusaders  was  ignorant  of  this  quarrel. 
Dissension  spread  from  the  leaders  to  the  soldiers ;  they 
heaped  abuse  upon  each  other,  and  were  even  ready  to  cut 
the  throats  of  their  comrades  to  determine  who  should 
possess  a  broken  sceptre  and  the  vain  title  of  king.  The 
bishops  at  length  calmed  the  fury  of  these  differences,  and 
persuaded  therivals  to  refer  the  matter  to  the  judgment  of 
Bichard  and  Philip. 

These  two  princes,  who  had  embarked  at  Genoa  and  Mar- 
seilles, met  at  Messina.  Sicily  was  then  at  war  with  Ger- 
many for  the  succession  of  William  II.  Constance,  the  heir 
of  William,  had  married  the  Emperor  Henry  VI.,  and  had 
charged  him  with  the  duty  of  proclaiming  her  rights,  and 
defending  her  inheritance ;  but  Tancred,  natural  brother  of 
Constance,  who  had  obtained  the  love  of  the  nobility  of 
Sicily,  had  usurped  the  throne  of  his  sister,  and  maintained 
himself  upon  it,  by  force  of  arms,  against  the  efforts  of  the 
Germans. 

This  prince,  not  firmly  settled  on  his  throne,  was  much 
alarmed  at  the  approach  of  the  Crusaders.  He  feared  in 
Pliilip  an  ally  of  the  emperor  of  Germany,  and  in  Eichard, 
the  brother  of  Queen  Jane,  the  widow  of  William,  whom  he 
had  ill-treated,  and  still  detained  in  prison.  Being  totally 
unable  to  contend  with  tliem,  he  attempted  to  conciliate 
them  by  his  submission  and  attentions  :  he  at  first  succeeded 
with  Philip  beyond  his  expectations,  but  had  much  more 
trouble  in  appeasing  Kichard,  who,  immediately  after  his 
arrival,  haughtily  demanded  the  liberty  of  Jane,  and  took 
possession  of  the   two   forts  which  commanded   Messina. 


472  uiSTOET  or  the  ceusades. 

The  English  soon  got  embroiled  with  the  subjects  of  Tan- 
cred,  and  the  banners  of  England  were  seen  floating  over  the 
capital  itself.  By  this  act  of  violence  and  authority  Hichard 
gave  great  umbrage  to  Philip,  whose  vassal  he  was.  The  king 
gave  orders  that  Eichard's  standards  should  be  removed; 
and  the  impetuous  Coeur  de  Lion  was  forced  to  comply, 
though  trembUng  with  rage.  This  submission,  although  it 
was  accompanied  with  menaces,  seemed  to  appease  Philip, 
and  put  an  end  to  the  quarrel ;  but  from  that  time  Eichard 
became  friendly  with  Tancred,  Avho  endeavoured  to  create 
suspicions  of  the  loyalty  of  the  king  of  France,  and  to  secure 
peace  to  himself,  sowed  dissension  among  the  Crusaders. 

The  two  kinjrs  bv  turns  accused  each  other  of  breach  of 
faith  and  perfidy,  and  the  Erench  and  EngUsh  took  part  m 
the  hatred  of  their  monarchs.  Among  these  divisions, 
Phihp  pressed  Eichard  to  espouse  the  princess  Alice,  who 
had  been  promised  to  him  in  marriage;  but' the  face  of  cir- 
cumstances had  changed,  and  the  king  of  England  refused 
with  contempt  a  sister  of  the  king  of  Erance,  whom  he  had 
himself  earnestly  sought,  and  for  whom  he  had  made  war 
against  his  own  father. 

Eleanor  of  Guienne,  who  had  only  ceased  to  be  queen  of 
the  Erench  to  become  their  implacable  enemy,  had  for  a  long 
time  endeavoured  to  dissuade  Eichard  from  this  marriage. 
In  order  to  complete  her  work,  and  create  an  eternal  di^ision 
betvN'een  the  two  kings,  she  brought  with  her  into  Sicily, 
Eerengaria,  the  -daughter  of  Don  Sancho  of  Xavarre,  with 
the  view  of  marrying  her  to  the  king  of  England.  The  re- 
port of  her  arrival  augmented  the  suspicions  of  Phihp,  and 
was  a  fresh  source  of  complaints  on  his  part,  ^"ar  was 
upon  the  point  of  breaking  out,  but  some  wise  and  pious 
men  succeeded  in  soothing  these  angrj'  spirits ;  the  two  kings 
formed  a  new  aUiance  boimd  bv  new  oaths,  and  discord  was 
for  a  moment  quelled.  But  a  friendship  which  required  to 
be  sworn  to  so  often,  and  a  peace  which  every  day  demanded 
a  fresh  treatv,  were  verv  little  to  be  relied  on. 

Eichard,  who  had  just  been  making  war  upon  Christians, 
all  at  once  became  a  prey  to  repentance  and  penitence ;  he 
assembled  the  bishops  that  had  accompanied  him  in  a  chapel, 
presented  himself  before  them  in  his  shirt,  confessed  his 
sins,  and  listened  to  their  reproofs  with  the  docihtj  of  the 


HISTOEY    OF    TRE    CEUSADES.  473 

humblest  of  the  faitlifiil.  Some  time  after  this  whimsical 
ceremony,  his  mind*  being  naturall}^  inclined  to  superstition, 
he  took  a  fancy  to  hear  Abbot  Joachim,  \Yho  lived  in  re- 
tirement in  the  mountains  of  Calabria,  and  passed  for  a 
prophet. 

In  a  voyage  to  Jerusalem,  this  solitary  had,  it  was  said, 
received  from  Jesus  Christ  the  faculty  of  explaining  the 
Apocalypse,  and  to  read  in  it,  as  in  a  faithful  history,  all  that 
was  to  take  place  on  earth.  On  the  invitation  of  the  king 
of  England,  he  quitted  his  retreat,  and  repaired  to  Messina, 
preceded  by  the  fame  of  his  visions  and  miracles.  The 
austerity  of  his  morals,  the  singularity  of  his  behaviour,  with 
the  mystical  obscurity  of  his  discourses,  at  once  procured 
him  the  confidence  and  veneration  of  the  Crusaders.  He 
was  questioned  upon  the  issue  of  the  war  they  were  about 
to  make  in  Palestine  ;  and  he  predicted  that  Jerusalem 
would  be  delivered  seven  years  after  its  conquest  by  Saladin. 
"Why,  then,"  said  Bichard,  "are  we  come  so  soon?" 
"  Tour  arrival,"  replied  Joachim,  "is  very  necessary;  Grod 
will  give  you  the  victory  over  his  enemies,  and  will  render 
your  name  celebrated  above  all  the  princes  of  the  earth." 

This  speech,  which  did  not  at  all  flatter  the  passions  or 
impatience  of  the  Crusaders,  could  only  minister  to  the  self- 
love  of  Eichard.  Philip  was  very  little  aflected  by  a  predic- 
tion which  was  afterwards  also  falsified  by  the  event ;  and 
was  only  the  more  anxious  to  encounter  Saladin,  the  re- 
doubtable conqueror,  in  whom  Joachim  saw  one  of  the  seven 
heads  of  the  Apocalypse.  As  soon  as  spring  rendered  the 
sea  navigable,  Philip  embarked  for  Palestine.  He  was 
received  there  as  an  angel  of  the  Lord,  and  his  presence 
reanimated  the  valour  and  hopes  of  the  Christians,  who  had 
during  two  years  unsuccessfully  besieged  Ptolemais.  The 
French  fixed  their  quarters  within  bow-shot  of  the  enemy, 
and,  as  soon  as  they  had  pitched  their  tents,  proceeded  to  the 
assault.  Thev  might  have  rendered  themselves  masters  of 
the  city ;  but  Philip,  inspired  by  a  cliivalric  spirit,  rather 
than  by  a  wise  policy,  was  desirous  that  Ilichard  should  be 

*  Fleury  relates  this  fact  in  his  Ecclesiastical  History,  after  the  English 
historian  Roger  Hoveden.  The  same  Roger  speaks  of  the  predictions 
and  visions  of  Abbot  Joachim,  who  finished  by  incurring  the  censore  of 
the  Holy  See. 


474  HISTORY    OP    THE    CRUSADES. 

present  at  this  first  conquest.  This  generous  consideration 
proved  fatal  to  the  enterprises  of  the  Christians,  and  gave 
time  to  the  Saracens  to  receive  reinforcements. 

Saladin  had  passed  the  winter  on  the  mountain  of 
Karouba,  and  fatigue,  frequent  combats,  "want,  and  disease 
had  greatly  reduced  his  army.  He  himself  likewise  was 
weakened  by  a  complaint  which  the  physicians  could  not 
cure,  and  which,  on  many  occasions,  prevented  him  from 
accompanving  his  warriors  to  the  field  of  battle.  When  he 
heard  of  the  arrival  of  the  two  powerful  Christian  monarchs, 
he  once  more,  by  his  ambassadors,  called  upon  the  Mussul- 
man nations  for  assistance.  In  aU  the  mosques  prayers  were 
put  up  for  the  triumph  of  his  arms  and  the  deHverance  of 
Islamism ;  and  in  every  Mussulman  city  the  Imauns  ex- 
horted the  true  believers  to  hasten  to  the  war. 

"  Numberless  legions  of  Christians,"  said  they,  "  are  come 
from  countries  situated  beyond  Constantinople,  to  bear  away 
from  us  conquests  that  gave  such  joy  to  the  Koran,  and  to 
dispute  with  us  a  laud  upon  which  the  companions  of  Omar 
planted  the  standard  of  the  Prophet.  Spare  neither  your 
lives  nor  your  treasures  to  oppose  them.  Your  marches 
against  the  infidels,  your  perils,  your  wounds,  all,  even  to 
the  passage  of  the  torrent,  is  written  in  the  book  of  God. 
Thirst,  hunger,  fatigue,  death  itself  will  become  for  you 
treasures  in  heaven,  and  will  open  to  you  the  gardens  and 
delicious  bowers  of  Paradise.  In  whatever  place  you  may 
be,  death  must  overtake  vou;  neither  vour  mansions  nor 
your  lofty  towers  can  defend  you  against  his  darts.  Some 
among  you  have  said,  Let  us  not  go  to  seek  for  battles  dui'ing 
the  heats  of  summer,  or  the  rigours  of  winter ;  but  heU  will 
be  more  terrible  than  the  rigours  of  winter  or  the  heats  of 
summer.  Go,  then,  and  bravely  fight  your  enemies  in  a  war 
undertaken  for  religion.  Victory  or  Paradise  awaits  you ; 
fear  God  more  than  the  infidels ;  it  is  Saladin  who  calls  vou 
to  his  baiuiers  ;  and  Saladin  is  the  friend  ol  the  Prophet,  as 
the  Prophet  is  the  friend  of  God.  If  you  do  not  obey, 
your  families  will  be  driven  from  S\Tia,  and  God  will  plant 
in  your  places  other  nations  better  than  you.  J  erusalem, 
the  sister  of  Medina  and  ISIecca,  "^-ill  fiiU  again  into  the 
power  of  idolaters,  who  give  a  so]i,  a  companion,  an  equal  to 
the  Most  High,  and  wish  to  extinguish  the  knowledge  of 


niSTOET   or   THE  CEUSADES.  475 

Grod.  Arm  yourselves  then  with  the  buckler  of  victory ; 
disperse  the  children  of  fire,  the  sons  of  hell,  whom  the  sea 
has  vomited  upon  your  shores,  and  remember  these  words  of 
the  Koran  :  '  lie  who  shall  abandon  his  dwelling  to  defend 
the  holy  religion,  shall  meet  with  abundance  and  a  great  num- 
ber of  companions.''  " 

■Animated  by  such  discourses,  the  Mussulmans  flew  to 
arms,  and  from  all  parts  flocked  to  the  camp  of  Saladin, 
whom  they  looked  upon  as  the  arm  of  victory,  and  the 
beloved  son  of  the  Prophet. 

"WTiilst  this  was  going  on  Eichard  was  retarded  in  his 
march  by  interests  quite  foreign  to  the  crusade.  At  the 
moment  that  his  rival  was  waiting  for  him  to  take  a  city 
from  the  Saracens,  and  was  willing  to  share  even  glory  with 
him,  he  made  himself  master  of  a  kingdom,  and  kept  it  for 
himself. 

On  leaving  the  port  of  Messina,  the  English  fleet  was  dis- 
persed by  a  \iolent  tempest ;  three  vessels  were  wrecked 
upon  the  coast  of  Cyprus,  and  the  unfortunate  crews,  who 
escaped,  were  ill-treated  by  the  inhabitants  and  cast  into 
prison.  A  ship,  on  board  of  which  were  Berengaria  of 
Navarre,  and  Jane,  queen  of  Sicily,  upon  presenting  itself 
before  Limisso,  was  forbidden  to  enter  the  port.  A  short 
time  after,  Eichard  arrived  with  his  fleet,  which  he  had  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  together  again,  and  himself  met  with  an 
insolent  refusal.  Isaac,  of  the  family  of  Comnenus,  who, 
during  the  troubles  of  Constantinople,  had  got  possession  of 
the  isle  of  Cyprus,  and  governed  it  with  the  ostentatious 
title  of  emperor,  dared  to  threaten  the  king  of  England. 

His  menaces  became  the  signal  for  war ;  and  both  sides 
were  eager  for  the  conflict.  Isaac  could  not  resist  the  first 
shock  of  the  English ;  his  troops  were  beaten  and  dispersed ; 
his  cities  opened  their  gates  to  the  conqueror,  and  the  em- 
peror of  Cyprus  himself  fell  iuto  the  hands  of  Eichard,  who, 
to  insult  his  vanity  and  avarice,  caused  him  to  be  bound 
with  chains  of  silver.  The  king  of  England,  after  having 
delivered  the  inhabitants  of  Cyprus  from  a  master  whom 
they  called  a  tjnrant,  made  them  repay  this  service  with  the 
half  of  their  property,  and  took  possession  of  the  island, 
which  was  erected  into  a  kingdom,  and  remained  nearly 
three  hundred  years  under  the  domination  of  the  Latins. 

Vol.  I.— 22 


476  HISTOKY    OF    THE    CKUSADES. 

It  was  on  tliis  island,  in  the  bosom  of  victory,  and  in  the 
\dcinity  of  the  ancient  Amathus,  that  Eichard  celebrated 
his  marriage  ^Yith  Berengaria  of  Navarre.  He  then  set  out 
for  Palestine,  dragging  after  him  Isaac,  loaded  with  chains, 
and  the  daughter  of  that  unfortunate  prince,  in  whom,  it  is 
said,  the  new  queen  found  a  dangerous  rival. 

The  Franks  celebrated  the  arrival  of  Eichard  with  feux 
dejoie,  lighted  up  throughout  the  camp.  When  the  English 
had  united  their  forces  with  those  of  the  Christian  army, 
Ptolemais  saw  beneath  its  walls  all  that  Europe  could  boast 
of  as  illustrious  captains  and  valiant  warriors.  The  tents  of 
the  Eranks  covered  a  vast  plain,  and  their  army  presented 
a  most  majestic  and  terrible  aspect.  A  spectator,  on  be- 
holding on  the  coast  of  the  sea  the  towers  of  Ptolemais, 
and  the  camp  of  the  Christians,  in  which  they  had  built 
houses  and  traced  streets,  traversed  unceasingly  by  an  im- 
mense crowd,  might  have  supposed  he  saw  two  rival  cities 
which  were  at  war  with  each  other.  Each  nation  had  its 
leader  and  its  separate  quarter,  and  so  many  languages  were 
fc^poken  by  the  Crusaders,  that  the  Mussulmans  could  not 
find  interpreters  enough  to  enable  them  to  understand  all 
the  prisoners.  In  this  confused  multitude,  each  people  had 
a  different  character,  different  manners,  and  different  arms ; 
but,  at  the  signal  for  battle,  all  were  animated  by  the  same 
zeal  and  the  same  ardour  ;  the  presence  of  the  two  monarchs 
had  re-established  discipline,  and  Ptolemais  could  not  have 
prolonged  its  resistance,  if  discord,  that  eternal  enemy  of 
the  Christians,  had  not  entered  their  camp  with  Eichard. 

The  debates  relative  to  the  succession  to  the  throne  (^i 
Jerusalem  were  renewed  on  the  arrival  of  the  English. 
Philip  declared  for  Conrad,  which  was  quite  enough  to  de- 
termine Eichard  to  give  his  voice  for  Gruy  de  Lusignan. 
The  Christian  army  was  filled  with  troubles,  and  again 
dirided  into  two  factions  :  on  one  side  were  the  Erench,  the 
Grermans,  the  Templars,  and  the  Genoese  ;  on  the  other,  the 
English,  the  Pisans,  and  the  knights  of  the  Hospital.  The 
two  parties,  ready  to  break  into  open  war,  no  longer  united 
their  efforts  or  their  arms  against  the  Saracens  ;  whenever 
the  king  of  Erance,  at  the  head  of  his  warriors,  proceeded 
to  the  assault,  the  king  of  England  remained  in  his  tent  in 


HISTOKY    OF    THE  CRUSADES.  477 

a  state  of  sullen  repose.*  The  besieged  had  never  more 
than  one  of  the  monarchs  to  contend  with  at  once,  and  the 
Christian  army,  after  it  had  received  such  powerful  auxi- 
liaries, became  much  less  redoubtable  to  the  Saracens. 

Amidst  the  disputes  which  divided  the  Crusaders,  both 
kings  fell  dangerously  ill,  and  their  hatred  and  suspicion 
were  so  great,  that  each  accused  the  other  of  having  made 
an  attempt  upon  his  life.  As  Saladin  sent  them  refresh- 
ments and  physicians,  and  as  they  addressed  frequent 
messages  to  him,  each  party  reproached  the  monarch  who 
was  opposed  to  him  with  keeping  up  an  impious  under- 
standing with  the  Saracens. 

The  perils  of  the  army,  however,  with  the  glory  of  religion 
and  the  interests  of  the  crusade,  for  a  moment  stifled  the 
voice  of  faction,  and  induced  the  Crusaders  to  unite  against 
the  common  enemy.  After  long  debates,  it  was  decided 
that  Guy  de  Lusignan  should  retain  the  title  of  king  during 
his  life,  and  that  Conrad  and  his  descendants  should  succeed 
to  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem.  It  was  at  the  same  time 
agreed  that  when  one  of  the  two  monarchs  should  attack 
the  city,  the  other  should  watch  over  the  safety  of  the  camp, 
and  keep  the  army  of  Saladin  in  check.  This  agreement 
re-established  harmony  ;  and  the  Christian  warriors,  who  had 
been  upon  the  point  of  taking  arms  against  each  other,  now 
only  contended  for  the  glory  of  conquering  the  infidels. 

The  siege  was  resumed  with  fresh  ardour,  but  the  Mussul- 
mans had  employed  the  time  wasted  by  the  Christians  in 
vain  disputes,  in  strengthening  the  city.  When  the  besiegers 
appeared  before  the  walls,  they  met  with  a  resistance  en- 
tirely unexpected,  whilst  the  army  of  Saladin  continued 
indefatigable  and  unceasing  in  its  attacks.  At  the  earliest 
break  of  day,  the  drums  and  trumpets  constantly  sounded 
the  signal  for  battle,  both  from  the  walls  of  Ptolemais  and 

*  Could  not  the  reader  imagine  these  kings  were  playing  the  siege  of 
Troy,  and  that  Richard  was  the  sulky  Achilles  ?  There  is  a  strong  re- 
semblance in  the  constitution  of  the  forces  before  Troy  and  the  independent 
nations,  baronies,  and  counties  of  the  Crusaders — thence  the  dis^sensions, 
delays,  and  disasters  of  both.  History  becomes  the  test  of  poetry,  and 
Homer  shines  forth  not  only  the  great  poet,  but  the  veracious  historian 
and  clear-sighted  philosopher. — Trans. 


478  nisTOEY  OF  the  crusaces. 

the  camp  of  the  sultan,  SaLidin  animated  his  troops  "by  his 
presence  ;  whilst  his  brother,  Malec-Adel,  offered  an  example 
of  bravery  to  the  emirs.  Many  great  battles  were  fought  at 
the  foot  of  the  hills  on  which  the  Christians  were  encamped, 
and  twice  the  Crusaders  gave  a  general  assault ;  but  on 
both  occasions  were  obliged  to  return  hastily  to  their  tents, 
to  defend  them  against  Saladin. 

In  one  of  these  attacks,  a  Christian  knight  singly  defended 
one  of  the  gates  of  the  camp  against  a  host  of  Saracens. 
The  Arabian  writers  compare  this  knight  to  a  demon 
animated  by  all  the  fires  of  hell.  An  enormous  cuirass* 
entirely  covered  him  ;  arrows,  stones,  lance-thrusts,  made  no 
impression  on  him  ;  all  who  approached  him  were  slain,  and 
he  alone,  though  stuck  all  over  with  javelins  and  surrounded 
by  -enemies,  appeared  to  have  nothing  to  fear.  Ko  weapons 
or  force  being  able  to  prevail,  the  Greek  fire  was  at  length 
employed,  which  being  poured  upon  his  head,  devoured  by 
flames,  he  perished  like  one  of  the  enormous  machines  that 
the  besieged  had  burnt  under  the  walls  of  the  city. 

Every  day  the  Crusaders  redoubled  their  efforts,  and  by 
turns  repulsed  the  army  of  Saladin,  or  made  assaults  upon 
Ptolemais.  In  one  of  these  assaidts,  they  filled  up  a  part 
of  the  ditches  of  the  city  witli  the  carcasses  of  their  dead 
horses  and  the  bodies  of  their  companions  who  had  fallen 
beneath  the  swords  of  the  enemy,  or  been  swept  away  by 
disease.  The  Saracens  raised  up  these  horrid  masses  heaped 
up  under  their  walls,  and  cast  them  back  again  in  fragments 
upon  the  banks  of  the  ditches,  where  the  sword  and  lance 
were  for  ever  immolating  fresh  victims.  Neither  the  spec- 
tacle of  death,  nor  obstacles,  nor  fatigue  aftected  the  Chris- 
tians. When  their  wooden  towers  and  their  battering-rams 
were  reduced  to  ashes,  they  dug  into  the  earth,  and  by  sub- 
terranean ways  advanced  under  the  foundations  of  the  ram- 
parts. Every  day  they  employed  some  fresh  means  or  some 
new  machine  to  subdue  the  place.  An  Arabian  historian 
relates  that  they  raised  near  their  camp  a  hill  of  earth  of  a 
prodigious  height,  and  that  by  constantly  throwing  the  earth 
up  before  them,  they  brought  this  mountain  close  to  the 

*  I  would  fain  translate  this  word  shield  or  buckler ;  but  as  I  cannot 
find  the  word  cuirasse  ever  used  for  one  of  these,  am  obliged  to  follow 
my  original. — Trans. 


niSTOllY    OF    THE  CRUSADES.  479 

city.  It  liad  advanced  wifchin  half  a  bow-shot,  when  the 
Mussulmans  issued  from  their  gates,  and  precipitated  them- 
selves in  front  of  this  enormous  mass,  which  grew  nearer 
and  nearer,  and  already  threatened  their  walls.  Armed  with 
swords,  pickaxes,  and  'shovels,  they  attacked  the  troops  em- 
ployed in  forwarding  it,  using  every  effort  to  remove  it  back 
towards  the  plain ;  but  were  only  able  to  arrest  its  progress 
by  dio-ging  vast  and  deep  ditches  in  its  passage. 

Among  all  the  Christian  warriors,  the  French  distinguished 
themselves   greatly,   and  directed  their  efforts    principally 
against  the  Cursed  Tower,  which  was  erected  at  the  eastern 
sfde  of  the  city.     A  great  part  of  the  walls  began  to  tall, 
and  must  soon  offer  a  passage  to  the  besieging  army.    AVar, 
famine,  and  disease  had  weakened  the  garrison ;   the  city 
had  not  soldiers  enough  left  to  defend  the  ramparts  and 
move  about  the  machines  employed  against  those  of  the 
Christians.     The  place  not  only  stood  in  need  of  provisions, 
but  of  warlike  munitions  and  Greek  fire.    The  warriors  who 
had  gone  through  so  much,  began  to  feel  discouragement, 
and  the  people  loudly  murmured  against  Saladin  and  the 
emirs.     In  this  extremity,  the  commander  of  the  garrison 
came  and  proposed  a  capitulation  to  Philip  Augustus,  who 
swore  by  the  God  of  the  Christians  that  he  would  not  spare 
a  sinc^le  inhabitant  of  Pfcolemais,  if  the  Mussulmans  did  not 
restore  all  the  cities  that  had  fallen  into  their  power  since 

the  battle  of  Tiberias.  -, '  ^  -ni  -t 

The  chief  of  the  emirs,  irritated  by  the  relusal  ot  I'lniip, 
retired,  saying  that  he  and  his  companions  would  rather 
bury  themselv'es  beneath  the  ruins  of  the  city,  than  listen  to 
such  terms,  and  that  they  would  defend  Ptolemais  as  a  lion 
defends  his  blood-stained  lair.  On  his  return  into  the  place, 
the  commander  of  the  Saracens  communicated  his  courage, 
or  rather  his  despair,  to  every  heart.  When  the  Christians 
resumed  their  assaults,  they  were  repulsed  with  a  vigour 
that  astonished  them.  "  The  tumultuous  waves  of  the 
Franks,"  says  an  Arabian  author,  "  rolled  towards  the  place 
with  the  rapidity  of  a  torrent ;  they  mounted  the  half-rumed 
walls  as  wild  goats  ascend  the  steepest  rocks,  whilst  the 
Saracens  precipitated  themselves  upon  the  besiegers  like 
stones  detached  from  the  summits  of  mountains." 

In  one  general  assault,  a  Florentine  knight  of  the  family 


480  HISTOEY    OF    THE    CKUSADES. 

of  Bonaguisi,  followed  by  some  of  his  men,  fought  lils  way 
into  one  of  the  towers  of  the  infidels,  and  got  possession  of 
the  Mussulman  banner  that  floated  from  it.  Overpowered 
by  numbers,  and  forced  to  retreat,  he  returned  to  the  camp, 
bearing  the  flag  he  had  carried  ofl"  from  the  Saracens.  ]n 
the  same  assault,  Alberic  Clement,  the  first  marshal  of 
France  of  whom  history  makes  mention,  scaled  the  ram- 
parts, and,  sword  in  hand,  penetrated  into  the  city,  where 
he  found  a  glorious  death.  Stephen,  count  of  Blois,  and 
several  knights  were  burnt  by  the  Greek  fire,  the  boihng 
oil,  the  melted  lead,  and  heated  sand  which  the  besieged 
poured  down  upon  all  who  approached  the  walls. 

The  obstinate  ardour  of  the  Mussulmans  was  sustained 
during  sevei-al  days ;  but  as  they  received  no  succour,  many 
emirs,  at  length  despairing  of  the  safety  of  Ptolemais, 
threw  themselves,  by  night,  into  a  bark,  to  seek  an 
asylum  in  the  camp  of  Saladin,  preferring  to  encounter  the 
anger  of  the  sultan,  to  perishing  by  the  sword  of  the  Chris- 
tians. This  desertion,  and  the  contemplation  of  their  ruined 
towers,  filled  the  Mussulmans  with  terror.  AV^hilst  pigeons 
and  divers  constantlv  announced  to  Saladin  the  horrible  dis- 
tresses  of  the  besieged,  the  latter  came  to  the  resolution  of 
leaving  the  city  by  night,  and  braving  every  peril  to  join  the 
Saracen  army.  But  their  project  being  discovered  by  the 
Christians,  they  blocked  up  and  guarded  every  passage  by 
which  the  enemy  could  possibly  escape.  The  emirs,  the 
soldiers,  and  the  inhabitants  then  became  con\dnced  that 
they  had  no  hope  but  in  the  mercy  of  Philip  Augustus,  and 
promised,  if  he  would  grant  them  liberty  and  life,  to  cause 
to  be  given  np  to  the  Christians  sixteen  hundred  prisoners, 
and  the  wood  of  the  true  cross.  By  the  capitulation  they 
engaged  to  pay  two  hundred  thousand  pieces  of  gold  to  the 
leaders  of  the  Christian  army,  and  the  garrison,  with  th3 
entire  population  of  Ptolemais,  were  to  remain  in  the  power 
of  the  conquerors  till  the  execution  of  the  treaty. 

A  Mussulman  soldier  was  sent  from  the  city  to  announce 
to  Saladin  that  the  garrison  was  forced  to  capitidate.  The 
sultan,  who  was  preparing  to  make  a  last  eftbrt  to  save  the 
place,  learnt  the  news  with  deep  regret.  He  assembled  his 
council,  to  know  if  they  approved  of  the  capitulation ;  but 


EISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES.  481 

scarcely  were  the  principal  emirs  met  in  his  tent,  when  they 
beheld  the  standards  of  the  crusaders  floating  over  the  walls 
and  towers  of  Ptolemais. 

Such  was  the  conclusion  of  this  famous  siege,  which  lasted 
nearly  three  years,  and  in  which  the  crusaders  shed  more 
blood  and  exhibited  more  bravery  than  ought  to  have  sufficed 
lor  the  subjugation  of  the  whole  of  Asia.  More  than  a 
himdred  skirmishes  and  nine  great  battles  were  fought 
before  the  walls  of  the  city  ;  several  floiu'ishing  armies  came 
to  recruit  armies  nearly  annihilated,  and  were  in  their  tui'n 
replaced  by  fresh  armies.  The  bravest  nobility  of  Europe 
perished  in  this  siege,  swept  away  by  the  sword  or  disease. 
Among  the  illustrious  victims  of  this  war,  history  points  out 
Philip,  count  of  Elanders,  Gruy  de  Chatillon,  Bernard  de 
St.  Yallery,  Yautrier  de  Mory,  Raoul  de  Fougeres,  Eudes  de 
Gonesse,  Eenaud  de  Maguy,  Geoffroi  d'Aumale,  viscount  de 
Chatellerault,  Josselin  de  Montmorency,  and  Eaoul  de 
Marie ;  the  archbishops  of  Besan^on  and  Canterbury ;  with 
many  other  ecclesiastics  and  knights  whose  piety  and  exploits 
were  the  admiration  of  Europe.* 

In  this  war  both  parties  were  anunated  by  religion ; 
each  side  boasted  of  its  miracles,  its  saints,  and  its  pro- 
phets. Bishops  and  imauus  equally  promised  the  soldiers 
remission  of  their  sins  and  the  crown  of  martjTdom.  Whilst 
the  king  of  Jerusalem  caused  the  book  of  the  Evangelists  to 
be  borne  before  him,  Saladin  would  often  pause  on  the 
iield  of  battle  to  offer  up  a  prayer  or  read  a  chapter  from  the 
Koran. t  The  Eranks  and  the  Saracens  mutually  accused 
each  other  of  ignorance  of  the  true  God  and  of  outraging 
him  by  their  ceremonies.  The  Christians  rushed  upon  their 
enemies  crying,  ^' It  is  the  will  of  God !  It  is  the  icill  of 
God!''''  and  the  Saracens  answered  by  their  war-cry,  '•  Islam! 
Islam!'''' 

Eanaticism  frequently  augmented  the  fury  of  slaughter. 

*  Either  the  English  took  less  part  in  the  crusades  than  we  generally 
imagine,  or  a  French  historian  does  not  mete  thein  due  honour ;  the 
archbishop  of  Canterbury  is  the  only  name  clearly  English  in  this  list.  I 
shall  have  occasion  to  recur  to  this  subject. — Trans. 

f  Saladin  had  a  copy  of  the  Koran,  compiled  by  Omar,  always  carried 
with  his  army. 


482  HISTOEY  OF  TUE  cet:s.u)es. 

The  Mussulmans  from  the  height  of  their  towers  insulted 
the  religious  ceremonies  of  the  Christians.*  They  raised 
crosses  on  their  ramparts,  beat  them  with  rods,  covered  them 
with  dust,  mud,  and  filth,  and  broke  them  into  ^  thousand 
pieces  before  the  eves  of  the  besiegers.  At  this  spectacle 
the  Christians  swore  to  avenge  their  outraged  worship,  and 
menaced  the  Saracens  with  the  destruction  of  ever)'  Maho- 
medan  pulpit.  In  the  heat  of  this  rehgious  animosity,  the 
Mussulmans  often  massacred  disarmed  captives  ;  and  in  more 
than  one  battle  they  burnt  theirf  Christian  prisoners  in  the 
very  field  of  conflict.  The  crusaders  but  too  closely  imitated 
the  barbarity  of  their  enemies  ;  funeral  piles,  lighted  up  by 
fanatical  rage,  were  often  extinguished  in  rivers  of  blood. 

The  Mussulman  and  Christian  warriors  provoked  each 
other  durinof  siusjle  combats,  and  were  as  lavish  of  abuse 
as  the  heroes  of  Homer.  Heroiues  often  appeared  in  tlie 
melee,  and  disputed  the  prize  of  strength  and  courage  with 
the  bravest  of  the  Saracens.  J  Children  came  from  the  city 
to  fight  with  the  children  of  the  Christians  in  the  presence 
of  the  two  armies. 

But  sometimes  the  furies  of  war  gave  place  to  the 
amenities  of  peace,  and  Franks  and  Saracens  would  for  a 
moment  forget  the  hatred  that  liad  led  them  to  take  up 
arms.  During  the  course  of  the  siege  several  tournaments 
were  held  in  the  plain  of  Ptolemais,  to  which  the  Mussulmans 
were  invited.  The  champions  of  the  two  parties  harangued 
each  other  before  entering  the  lists  ;  the  conqueror  was 
bonie  in  triumph,  and  the  conquered  ransomed  like  a  pri- 

*  Florentinus,  bishop  of  Ptolemais,  describes  with  horror  the  impiety 
of  the  Turks  :— 

Milites  aspiceres  super  mures  stantes 
Turcos,  sanctam  manibus  crucena  elerantes 
Cum  flagellis  asperis  eam  verberantes, 
Et  cum  impropriis  nobis  minitantes. 
f  "  One  of  our  people,"  says  Omad,  "  having  been  made  prisoner,  was 
burnt,  and  the  flames  accompanied  him  to  his  place  of  everlasting  repose  ; 
we  took  a  Christian,  we  burnt  him,  and  the  flames  that  devoured  him 
mingled  with  the  fires  of  hell." — See  the  MS.  of  Dom  Berthereau. 

X  A  combat  of  children  is  related  by  Omad  of  Ispahan  ;  and  the  same 
author  speaks  of  the  Christian  heroines  who  mingled  in  the  fight.  He 
adds,  that  the  young  women  fought,  and  the  old  women  animated  them 
by  their  cries. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CEUSAI>ES.  483 

soner  of  war.  In  these  warlike  festivities,  wliicli  brought  the 
two  nations  together,  the  Franks  often  danced  to  the  sound 
of  Arabian  instruments,  and  their  minstrels  afterwards 
played  or  sang  to  the  dancing  of  the  Saracens. 

Most  of  the  Mussulman  emirs,  after  the  example  of 
Saladin,  affected  an  austere  simplicity  in  their  vestments  and 
manners.  An  Arabian  author  compares  the  sultan,  in  his 
court,  surrounded  by  his  sons  and  brothers,  to  the  star  ot 
night,  which  sheds  a  sombre  light  amidst  the  other  stars. 
The  principal  leaders  of  the  crusade  did  not  entertain  the 
same  love  of  simplicity,  but  endeavoured  to  excel  each  other 
in  splendour  and  magnificence.  As  in  the  first  crusade,  the 
princes  and  barons  were  followed  into  Asia  by  their  hunting 
and  fishing  appointments,  and  the  luxuries  of  their  palaces 
and  castles.  When  Philip  Augustus  arrived  before  Ptole- 
mais,  all  eyes  were  for  a  moment  turned  upon  the  falcons  he 
had  brought  with  him.  One  of  these  having  escaped  from 
the  hands  of  his  keeper,  perched  upon  the  ramparts  of  the 
city,  and  the  whole  Christian  army  was  excited  by  endeavours 
to  recapture  the  fugitive  bird.  As  it  was  caught  by  the 
Mussulmans,  and  carried  to  Saladin,  Philip  sent  an  ambas- 
sador to  the  sultan  to  recover  it,  ofiering  a  sum  of  gold  that 
would  have  been  quite  snfficient  for  the  ransom  of  many 
Christian  warriors. 

The  misery  which  so  often  visited  the  Crusaders,  did  not 
at  all  prevent  a  great  number  of  them  from  indulging  in 
excesses  of  license  and  debauchery.  All  the  vices  of  Europe 
and  Asia  were  met  together  on  one  spot.  If  an  Arabian 
author  may  be  believed,  at  the  very  moment  in  which  the 
Franks  were  a  prey  to  famine  and  contagious  diseases, 
a  troop  of  three  hundred  women  from  Cyprus  and  the  neigh- 
bouring islands  arrived  in  the  camp.  These  three  hundred 
women,  whose  presence  in  the  Christian  army  was  a  scandal 
in  the  eyes  of  the  Saracens,  prostituted  themselves  among 
the  soldiers  of  the  cross,  and  stood  in  no  need  of  employing 
the  enchantments  of  the  Armida  of  Tasso  to  corrupt  them. 

Nevertheless,  the  clergy  were  uni-emitting  in  their  exhor- 
tations to  the  pilgrims  to  lead  them  back  to  the  morals  of 
the  Gospel.  Churches,  suj^mounted  by  wooden  steeples, 
were  erected  in  the  camp,  in  which  the  faithful  were  every 
day  called  together.     Not  unfrequently  the  Saracens  took 

22* 


484  HISTORY    OF    THE    CRUSADES. 

advantage  of  the  moment  at  which  the  soldiers  left  their  in- 
trenchments  unofuarded  to  attend  mass,  and  made  living  but 
anuopng  incui'sions.  Amidst  general  corruption,  the  siege  of 
Ptolemais  presented  manv  subjects  of  edification.  In  the 
camp,  or  in  the  field  of  battle,  charity  hovered  constantly 
around  the  Christian  soldier,  to  soothe  his  misery,  to  watch  his 
sick  pallet,  or  dress  his  wounds.  During  the  siege  the  warriors 
from  the  North  were  in  the  greatest  distress,  and  could  gain 
little  assistance  from  other  nations.  Some  pilgrims  from 
Lubeck  and  Bremen  came  to  their  aid,  formed  tents  of  the 
sails  of  their  vessels  to  shelter  their  poor  countrymen,  and 
ministered  to  their  wants  and  tended  their  diseases.  Forty 
German  nobles  took  part  in  this  generous  enterprise,  and 
their  association  was  the  origin  of  the  hospitable  and  military 
order  of  the  Teutonic  knights. 

When  the  Crusaders  entered  Ptolemais,  they  shared  the 
sovereignty  of  it  amongst  them,  each  nation  taking  possession 
of  one  of  the  quarters  of  the  city,  which  had  soon  as  many 
masters  as  it  had  had  enemies.  The  king  of  Jerusalem  was 
the  only  leader  that  obtained  nothins:  in  the  division  of  the 
first  reconquered  place  of  his  kingdom. 

The  capitulation  remained  luiexecuted  ;  Saladin,  under 
various  pretexts,  deferring  the  completion  of  the  conditions. 
Pichard,  irritated  by  a  delay  which  appeared  to  him  a  breach 
of  faith,  revenged  himself  upon  the  prisoners  that  were  in 
his  hands.  AVithout  pity  for  disarmed  enemies,  or  for  the 
Christians  he  exposed  to  sanguinary  reprisals,  he  massacred 
five  thousand  Mussulmans  before  the  city  they  had  so  vali- 
antly defended,  and  within  si»ht  of  Saladin,  who  shared  the 
disgrace  of  this  barbarity  by  thus  abandoning  his  bravest  and 
most  faithful  warriors. 

This  action,  which  excited  the  regret  of  the  whole  Chris- 
tian army,  suflS^ciently  exposed  the  character  of  Eichard,  and 
showed  what  was  to  be  dreaded  from  his  violence ;  a  barba- 
rous and  implacable  enemy  could  not  become  a  generous 
rival.  On  the  day  of  the  surrender  of  Ptolemais,  he 
committed  a  gross  outrage  upon  Leopold,  duke  of  Austria, 
by  ordering  the  standard  of  that  prince,  which  had  been 
planted  on  one  of  the  towers,  to  be  cast  into  the  ditch. 

Leopold  dissembled  his  resentment,  but  swore  to  avenge 
this    insult    whenever    he    should    find    an    opportunity. 


HISTORY    OF  THE    CRUSADES.  485 

Richard,  for  ever  carried  away  by  his  violent  and  imperious 
character,  desired  to  command  as  a  master,  and  alone  dictate 
laws  for  the  whole  army  of  the  Crusaders.  He  endeavoured 
to  corrupt  the  troops  of  Philip  by  largesses ;  he  set  a  price 
upon  infidelity  and  treason  ;  and  Philip,  fearing  to  compro- 
mise the  dignity  of  a  king  and  the  interests  of  the  crusade  by 
punishing  the  outrages  and  perfidy  of  his  rival,  resolved  to 
return  to  Prance,  where  fortune  offered  him  more  than  one 
opportunity  of  usefully  revenging  himself  upon  the  king  of 
Ens^land. 

Philip  quitted  Palestine,  leaving  in  the  army  ten  thousand 
foot  and  five  hundred  horse,  under  the  command  of  the  duke 
of  Burgundy.  On  his  arrival  at  Tyre,  from  which  port  he 
embarked,  he  received  a  solemn  embassy  from  Saladin,  who 
sent  him  magnificent  presents,  and  complimented  him  as 
the  most  powerful  monarch  of  the  West.  He  soon  arrived 
in  Italy,  where  the  holy  pontiff'  praised  his  devotion,  and 
bestowed  upon  him  the  palms  of  pilgrimage.  AVelcomed 
on  his  return  to  his  kingdom  by  the  benedictions  of  his 
people,  he  carried  back  the  sacred  oriflamme  to  the  church 
of  St.  Denis,  and  returned  thanks  to  the  apostles  of  Prance 
for  having  protected  his  life  and  the  glory  of  his  arms  amidst 
the  greatest  perils. 

When  Philip  left  Palestine,  Eichard  remained  at  the  head 
of  an  army  of  a  hundred  thousand  Crusaders.  After  having 
repaired  the  walls  of  Ptolemais,  and  allowed  his  soldiers 
some  little  repose,  he  passed  the  Belus,  crossed  Moiuit 
Carmel,  and  marched  towards  Csesarea.  A  fleet  from  Ptole- 
mais kept  close  to  the  shore,  and  transported  the  provisions, 
machines  of  war,  and  baggage  of  the  Christian  army.  Sala- 
din, whom  Arabian  writers  often  compare  to  a  lioness  that 
has  lost  her  young,  upon  receiving  intelligence  of  the  march 
of  the  Crusaders,  gathered  together  his  army,  and  set  out  in 
pursuit  of  them ;  sometimes  getting  in  advance  and  attack- 
ing their  van,  at  others  harassing  their  flanks,  and  seizing 
every  soldier  that  ventured  to  stray  from  the  main  body. 
Although  Caesarea  was  only  twelve  leagues  from  Ptolemais, 
the  Crusaders  could  not  accomplish  the  distance  in  less 
than  six  days.  All  the  Christians,  who  were  unable  to 
keep  up  with  the  army,  and  fell  into  the  power  of  Saladin, 
were  put  to  death  by  his  orders,  and  their  bodies  left  upon 


4S6  HISTORY    or    TUE    CEUSADES. 

the  sliore,  as  an  expiation  of  tlie  massacre  of  tlie  garrison  of 
Ptolemais. 

Eichard,  'vnIio  found  that  perils  and  obstacles  multiplied  in 
his  route,  desired  an  interview  with  Malek-Adel,  and  pro- 
posed to  make  peace,  if  the  Mussulmans  would  restore  the 
city  of  Jemsalem  to  the  Christians.  Malek-Adel  replied  that 
the  last  of  the  soldiers  of  Saladin  would  perish^  rather  than 
renounce  conquests  made  in  the  name  of  Islamism.  Eichard, 
irritated  bv  this  refusal,  swore  that  he  would  obtain  by  vic- 
tory that  which  he  could  not  obtain  from  Saladin,  and  gave 
orders  for  the  army  to  pursue  their  march.* 

The  Crusaders  advanced  towards  the  city  of  Arsur,  march- 
ing  over  a  long  but  narrow  plain,  intersected  by  torrents, 
ravines,  and  marshes,  and  covered  in  many  places  with 
fragments  of  rocks,  marine  plants,  and  reeds.  They  had 
the  sea  on  their  right,  and  on  the  left  rose  the  steep  moun- 
tains of  Xaplouse,  defended  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  country 
and  the  troops  of  Saladin.  At  every  passage  of  a  torrent, 
at  every  dune  or  hillock  of  sand,  at  every  villao;e,  a  fresh 
contest  had  to  be  sustained,  whilst  the  Mussulman  archers, 
placed  upon  the  heights,  annoyed  them  unceasingly  with 
their  arrows.  Eichard's  army  marched  in  order  of  battle; 
the  cavalry  being  placed  in  the  centime ;  whilst  the  foot, 
closing  their  ranks,  presented  an  impenetrable  wall  to  the 
enemy,  and  braved  their  constantly  renewed  attacks. 

The  army  of  the  sultan  got  in  advance  of  the  Crusaders, 
and  laid  waste  evervtliino:  in  their  wav ;  exhausting  their 
efforts  and  ingenuibt"  to  retard,  or  entii'ely  stop  their  march. 
Across  the  plain  of  Arsur  flowed  a  toiTent  which  cast  itself 
into  the  sea  near  the  ramparts  of  the  city ;  and  not  far 
from  this  torrent,  a  wood  of  oaks,  which  historians  call  the 

*  The  march  and  the  contests  of  the  Christians  and  the  Mussvilmans 
are  described  in  fullest  detail  by  Omad-al-Kabel,  secretary  to  Saladin,  in 
his  book  entitled  the  Pheta ;  and  by  Schahabeddin,  author  of  the  RouiJa- 
tain.  These  two  historians  almost  always  make  the  Mussulmans  triumph. 
"  We  have,"  say  they,  '•  animated  tbe  tongues  of  lances  and  swords  to 
speak  to  the  Christians,  and  to  hear  their  words.  Then  God  rendered 
sweet  to  us  all  that  was  bitter,  and  by  his  goodness  drew  near  to  us  all 
that  was  at  a  distance."  We  shall  not  follow  these  two  historians,  nor 
even  Bohaddin,  through  the  combats  of  the  Mussulmans  and  Christians, 
combats  in  -which  the  latter  are,  by  their  account,  always  conquered,  and 
yet  always  continue  to  advance  into  their  enemy's  country. 


niSTOEY    OF   THE    CKUSADE3.  487 

forest  of  Sarun,  and  which  is  believed  to  be  the  forest  cele- 
brated by  Tasso,  extended  along  the  declivities  of  the  moun- 
tains of  Naplouse :  it  was  upon  this  spot  Saladin  awaited 
the  Crusaders  to  offer  them  a  decisive  battle. 

A  part  of  his  army  covered  the  heights,  whilst  the 
remainder  encamped  upon  the  banks  of  the  torrent  of 
Arsur.  The  Christians  soon  arrived  in  face  of  their  enemy, 
and  di'ew  up  in  order  of  battle.  The  Danes,  Flemings,  and 
Tuscans,  commanded  by  Jacques  d' Avesnes,  formed  the  van. 
Richard  marched  in  the  centre,  at  the  head  of  the  English, 
Normans,  Gascons,  the  S^T-ian  troops,  and  those  of  the 
count  of  Champagne:  the  rear-guard  Avas  composed  of 
French  and  Germans,  under  the  orders  of  the  duke  of  Bur- 
gundy and  Leopold  of  Austria.  Whilst  the  archers  were 
showering  their  arrows  from  a  distance,  Saladin  passed 
through  the  ranks,  and  roused  the  courage  of  his  soldiers, 
who  replied  to  him  with  cries  of  Allah  ac  bar! — God  is 
powerful.*  Profound  silence  prevailed  in  the  Christian 
army ;  the  black  cuirasses  of  the  Crusaders  seeming  to 
darken  the  horizon,  whilst  sixty  thousand  swords  gleamed 
out  from  amidst  clouds  of  dust.  All  at  once  the  Christian 
infantry  opened  their  ranks,  and  the  cavalry  rushed  forward 
towards  the  enemy,  drawn  up  on  the  banks  of  the  torrent 
of  Arsur.  Jacques  d' Avesnes,  who  commanded  them,  pene- 
trated twice  into  the  closely-pressed  ranks  of  the  Saracens, 
and  twice  was  compelled  to  retreat  in  disorder.  At  the  third 
charge  his  leg  was  severed  by  the  stroke  of  a  sabre,  but  he  still 
pursued  the  infidels,  when  the  arm  with  which  he  fought 
was  struck  off  at  a  blow.  The  Christian  hero  fell  amidst 
the  enemy,  calling  aloud  upon  Eichard,  and  conjuring  him 
to  avenge  his  death. 

*  Omad  says  that  the  Mussulmans  surrounded  the  army  of  their  enemy 
as  the  eyelashes  sunv^nd  the  eye.  The  Mussulman  authors  speak  highly 
of  Jacques  d' Avesnes.  All  the  historians  of  Saladin  do  not  agree  as  to 
his  defeat,  and  say  that  Richard  got  possession  of  Jaffa  after  being  con- 
quered. Aboul-feda  is  more  honest;  Tabary  agrees  also  that  the  Mus- 
sulmans were  put  to  flight ;  the  same  historian  adds  to  his  faithful  account 
the  following  remarkable  circumstance: — "Near  the  Mussulman  army 
was  a  thick  wood,  into  which  they  retreated.  The  Franks  believed  that 
this  retreat  was  a  stratagem,  and  did  not  dare  to  pursue  their  enemies, 
whom  they  might  have  destroyed  if  they  had  followed  up  their  victory." 
For  these  authors,  see  the  Latin  extracts  of  Dom  -Bc-rthereau. 


488  IIISTOET   OF    THE    CRUS.IDES. 

The  king  of  England  advanced  witli  the  main  body, 
sweeping  away  the  crowd  of  Saracens  that  opposed  his 
passage,  and  pursuing  them  to  the  other  side  of  the  torrent ; 
but  whilst  he  yielded  to  his  ardour,  and  advanced  before  the 
Christian  army,  the  chosen  troops  of  the  Mussulmans  de- 
scended from  the  mountains  of  Naplouse,  and  poured  down 
upon  the  rear  of  the  Christians.  Eichard  was  forced  to 
retrace  his  steps  to  support  the  French  and  Germans,  who 
were  beginning  to  give  way.  The  plain  in  which  the  battle 
was  fought,  could  scarcelv  contain  all  the  combatants.  The 
Christians  and  Mussulmans  closed,  and  attacked  each  other 
man  to  man ;  the  foot  fought  pellmell  with  the  horse, 
exhorting  each  other  to  brave  death.  The  cries  of  rage, 
despaii',  and  agony  were  mingled  with  the  clashing  of 
swords,  lances,  and  shields.  The  two  armies,  confounded 
and  mixed  together,  became  nothing  but  one  horrible  spec- 
tacle. If  we  believe  the  somewhat  improbable  account  of 
an  English  historian,*  Hichard  and  Saladin  met  in  the 
vielee,  and  rushed  upon  each  other  sword  in  hand,  and  the 
two  armies  instantly  became  motionless,  leaving  to  their 
great  leaders  the  honour  of  deciding  the  fate  of  the  battle. 
This  singular  circumstance,  which  poetry  might  envy  his- 
tory, is  not  mentioned  by  Arabian  writers.f  The  battle 
lasted  almost  during  the  whole  day.  Towards  evening  the 
Mussulmans  were  broken  on  all  sides,  and  retreated  in 
disorder  into  the  forest  of  Saron,  whither  the  fear  of  an 
ambuscade  prevented  the  Christians  from  pursuing  them, 
and  destro^'ing  the  wreck  of  their  army. 

The  battle  of  Arsur  was  one  of  the  most  celebrated  of 
this  war ;  in  it  the  ^lussulmans  lost  a  great  number  of  their 
bravest  emirs,  and  particularly  regretted  a  chief  of  Saladin' s 
Mamelukes,  whose  heroic  courage  is  highly  celebrated  by 
their  historians.     Xo  Saracen  warrior  was  more  prompt  to 

*  Arabian  historians  say  nothing  of  the  single  combat  between  Richard 
and  Saladin.     English  historians  alone  mention  it. 

t  I  cannot  attach  much  consequence  to  the  silence  of  the  Arabian, 
writers  on  this  subject,  neither  can  1  think,  with  our  author,  such  a  ren- 
contre so  improballe  in  such  a  melee.  The  principal  argument  against  it 
is,  that  Saladin  survived  the  battle.  Richard  was  at  least  twelve  years 
younger  than  Saladin,  and  in  the  full  vigour  of  a  large,  powerful  frame, 
whilst  Saladin  was  weakened  by  toil  and  disease. — Trans. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    CRUSADES.  489 

meet  danger,  and  he  was  always  the  first  to  fly  to  the 
assistance  of  his  companions,  though  he  himself  needed  aid 
from  no  man.  His  horse  being  slain,  this  brave  emir  was 
encumbered  with  the  weight  of  his  iron  armour,  and  received 
several  mortal  wounds.  Many  Mussulman  soldiers  hastened 
to  his  relief;  hut  he  was  already  amongst  the  inliahitants  of 
heaven  ! 

The  Christians  wept  for  the  death  of  Jacques  d'Avesnes, 
who  had  so  often  shown  them  the  path  to  victory.  In  this 
glorious  day  the  loss  of  the  Crusaders  was  much  less  than 
that  of  the  Mussulmans  ;  their  leaders  and  soldiers  displayed 
a  degree  of  skill  that  they  had  never  evinced  before.  The 
Saracen  cavalry,  superior  to  that  of  the  Crusaders,  had  not 
room  to  perform  their  usual  evolutions  with  advantage  in  so 
confined  a  field.  They  attacked  the  Christians  several  times 
with  great  impetuosity,  but  the  Crusaders  withstood  them 
with  immovable  firmness,  and  constantly  rallied  around 
their  great  standard,  which  floated  from  the  summit  of  a 
rolling  tower.  A  remarkable  circumstance  of  this  battle  is, 
that  it  was  principally  gained  by  the  infantry,  a  force  which, 
although  held  in  contempt  in  the  first  crusade,  had  learnt 
to  be  redoubtable  under  the  walls  of  Ptolemais. 

Bichard,  who  had  conquered  the  Saracens,  was  not  wise 
enough  to  profit  by  theii'  defeat ;  instead  of  pursuing  the 
enemy,  or  marching  straight  to  Jerusalem,  he  led  his  army 
to  Jaffa,  the  ramparts  of  which  Saladin  had  demolished, 
and  which  the  Mussulmans  had  abandoned.  He  occupied 
himself  with  repairing  the  fortifications,  and  sent  for  the 
Queen  Berengaria,  Jane,  the  widow  of  the  king  of  Sicily,  and 
the  daughter  of  Isaac.  Surrounded  by  a  brilliant  court,  he 
forgot,  in  the  intoxication  of  pleasure  and  festivities,  the 
conquest  of  Jerusalem,  for  which  he  had  come  into  Asia. 
During  this  fatal  repose,  he  was  on  the  point  of  losing  with 
his  life  and  liberty  the  fruit  of  all  his  victories.  Being  one 
day  hunting  in  the  forest  of  Saron,  overcome  by  heat  or 
fatigue,  he  alighted  from  his  horse  and  fell  asleep  under 
a  tree.  All  at  once  he  was  aroused  by  the  cries  of  those 
who  accompanied  him, — a  troop  of  Saracens  was  close  upon 
them !  He  sprang  upon  his  horse,  and  prepared  to  defend 
himself ;  but  was  near  sinking  beneath  the  force  of  numbers, 
when  a  knight  of  his  suite,  named  William  Fourcelet,  cried 


4i90  iiisTortY  or  the  ceusades. 

out  in  tlie  Arabic  tongue,  '■^  I  am  the  Icing  ;  spare  my  lifer* 
At  these  words,  this  generous  warrior  was  surrounded  by 
the  Mussidmaus,  who  made  him  prisoner  and  conducted  him 
to  Saladin.  The  king  of'Eugland,  thus  saved  by  the  heroism 
of  a  French  knight,  escaped  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and 
returned  to  Jaffa,  where  his  army  learnt  with  terror  the 
danger  they  had  been  in  of  losing  their  leader. 

Eichard  formed  the  project  of  besieging  Ascalon ;  and 
Saladin  being  doubtful  of  his  power  to  defend  that  city, 
resolved  to  destroy  it.  In  vain  the  inhabitants  came  to 
implore  his  pity ;  in  the  space  of  a  few  days  the  strongest 
and  most  flourishing  city  of  Syria  was  consumed  by  fire,  and 
remained  nothing  but  a  heap  of  ruins. 

The  demolition  of  Ascalon  excited  gi'eat  sorrow  among 
the  Mussulmans  ;  and  the  king  of  England,  who  had  enter- 
tained hopes  of  rendering  himself  master  of  the  place,  was  as 
much  afflicted  as  if  he  had  lost  one  of  liis  conquests.  This 
city,  which  had  cost  the  Cln-istians  and  Mussulmans  so 
much  blood,  opened  at  once  to  the  Crusaders  the  gates 
of  Palestine  and  Egypt.  Eichard  undertook  to  rebuild  the 
ramparts  that  the  Mussulmans  had  destroyed,  and  led  his 
army  into  the  plain,  covered  by  the  ruins  of  Ascalon. 

It  was  a  curious  spectacle  to  behold  thirty  thousand 
warriors  from  the  ^V^est  employed  in  rebuilding  the  walls  of 
a  city  of  Syria.  The  Crusaders,  as  the  Hebrews  have  been 
described  to  us  whilst  erecting  the  temple  of  Jerusalem,  were 
obliged  to  work  with  the  sword  in  one  hand  and  the  tools  of 
masonrv  in  the  other.  Saladin  migrht  have  distui'bed  their 
labours :  but  he  preferred  giving  his  army  a  little  repose,  and 
recruiting  its  numbers  ;  persuaded  that  the  divisions  that 
existed  among  his  enemies  would  soon  work  to  his  advantage. 
The  Christian  army  obeyed  Eichard  very  unwillingly. 
Leopold  of  Austria,  accused  by  the  king  of  England  of 
remaining  idle  with  his  Grermans,  contented  himself  with 
repUing  tliat  lie  was  neither  a  carpenter  nor  a  mason.  The 
greater  part  of  the  knights  who  were  thus  employed  in 
moving  stones  and  digging  ditches,  were  exceedingly  indig- 
nant, and  said  aloud  that  they  did  not  come  into  Asia  to 
rebuild  Ascalon,  but  to  conquer  Jerusalem. 

*  This  gallant  act  of  devotedness  of  William  de  Pourcelet,  a  Proven^a) 
gentleman,  is  related  by  both  the  Latin  and  Oriental  historians. 


HISTOST    OF   TKE   CEUSADES.  '  491 

"Whilst  the  Christian  armj  Avas  in  this  dissatisfied  state, 
the  marquis  of  Tyre,  who  had  been  ill-treated  by  Eichard, 
courted  the  alliance  of  the  sultan,  and  promised  to  restore 
Ptolemais  to  him,  if  the  Mussubnans  would  agree  to  protect 
him  against  his  enemies.  The  king  of  England,  warned  of 
this  perfidious  negotiation,  became  only  anxious  to  defeat 
the  projects  of  Com-ad,  and  himself  made  propositions  to 
Saladin.  He  renewed  the  promise  he  had  made  to  Malek- 
Adel  to  return  into  Europe  if  Jerusalem  and  the  wood  of  the 
true  cross  were  restored  to  the  Christians.  "  Jerusalem," 
replied  Saladin,  '"  never  belonged  to  you ;  we  cannot  without 
a  crime  abandon  it  to  you,  for  in  it  were  accomplished  the 
mysteries  of  our  religion,"  As  to  the  wood  of  the  true  cross, 
Saladin  considered  it  as  an  obiect  of  scandal,  as  an  insult  to 
divinity.  He  had  refused  to  give  it  up  to  the  king  of 
Georgia  or  the  emperor  of  Constantinople,  both  of  whom  had 
offered  him  considerable  sums  for  it.  "  All  the  advantages' 
to  be  procured  by  peace,"  said  he,  "  cannot  bring  me  to 
restore  this  disgracel'ul  monument  of  their  idolatrj^  to  the 
Christians." 

Eichard,  who  really  considered  the  restitution  of  the  true 
cross  of  very  little  importance,  did  not  reiterate  his  demand  ; 
but  as  he  was  desirous  of  peace,  he  made  other  proposals,  in 
which  he  adroitly  interested  the  ambition  of  Malek-Adel,  the 
brother  of  the  sultan.  The  widow  of  AVilliam  of  Sicily,  the 
sister  of  Richard,  was  offered  in  marriage  to  the  Mussulman 
prince ;  under  the  auspices  of  Saladin  and  Eichard,  they 
mio-ht  reign  together  over  Mussulmans  and  Christians,  and 
govern  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem.  The  historian  Omad  was 
charged  by  Malek-Adel  with  the  task  of  communicating  this 
proposition  to  Saladin,  who  appeared  to  adopt  it  without 
repugnance.*  The  project  of  this  singular  union  created 
great  surprise  among  the  imauns  and  doctors  of  the  law ;  and 

*  This  negotiation  is  related  by  the  principal  Arabian  historians,  Bo- 
haeddin  and  the  author  of  the  Phatah.  Although  Christian  writers  have 
not  spoken  of  it,  it  would  be  diffic;ult  to  cast  doubt  upon,  or  weaken  the 
evidence  of  Arabian  authors,  w^ho  were  ocular  witnesses,  and  were  them- 
selves mixed  up  with  the  affair.  It  is  this  negotiation  that  gave  Madame 
Cottin  the  idea  of  her  romance  of  Mathilda,  or  the  Crusades;  a  work 
full  of  eloquent  pictures  and  heroic  sentiments,  drawn  from  the  history 
of  chivalry. 


492  HISTOET    OF    THE    CSrSADES. 

the  Christian  bishops,  ^-hen  they  were  informed  of  it, 
expressed  the  strongest  indignation,  and  threatened  both 
Jane  and  Eichard  ^^"ith  the  thunders  of  the  Church. 

The  execution  of  this  plan  appeared  impossible  in  the 
midst  of  a  religious  war ;  and  everything  leads  us  to  believe 
that  Saladin  only  affected  to  give  it  attention  that  he  might 
gain  time  to  fortify  Jerusalem,  which  the  Christians  still 
demanded  of  him.  Skilful  workmen  from  Aleppo  were,  by 
his  orders,  employed  in  widening  the  ditches  and  repairing 
the  walls.  Among  the  Mussulman  workmen  were  two 
thousand  Christian  prisoners,  condemned  to  rebuild  the 
fortresses  occupied  by  the  infidels.  Saladin  encouraged  the 
labours  by  his  presence  and  his  example,  animating  the  zeal 
of  the  people  and  soldiers  by  frequently  reminding  them  of 
the  ^'ictories  of  the  Mussulmans,  andof  the  massacre  of  their 
brethren  slaughtered  before  Ptolemais. 

The  conquest  of  the  holy  city  was  the  object  of  the  war, — 
the  great  reward  promised  to  the  labonrs  of  the  crusaders ; 
and  they  at  leugth  earnestly  pressed  Eichard  to  march 
towards  Jerusalem.  He  was  obliged  to  yield  to  their  impa- 
tience, and  led  them  as  far  as  Bethonopolis,*  situated 
between  Ascalon  and  the  capital  of  Palestine.  At  the 
approach  of  the  Franks,  Saladin  ordered  all  the  country 
through  which  their  army  must  pass  to  be  laid  waste.  By 
the  commands  of  the  sultan  the  ramparts  of  Eamla  and 
Lidda,  with  the  fortress  of  Xitro,  were  demolished.  All  the 
routes  which  led  to  Jerusalem  were  sruarded  by  Mussidman 
cavalry,  who  unceasingly  harassed  the  Christians,  and  pre- 
vented their  receiving  provisions  from  Ptolemais  or  other 
maritime  cities. 

In  proportion  with  their  approximation  to  Jerusalem,  the 
enthusiasm  and  ardour  of  the  Crusaders  increased ;  but 
Eichard  and  most  of  the  leaders  did  not  at  all  partake  of  the 
impatience  of  the  soldiers.  The  Christian  army  was  only 
one  day's  march  from  the  sea-coast,  and  yet  want  of  pro- 
visions began  to  be  sensibly  felt.     If  in  the  plains  of  Ptole- 

•  M.  Paultre,  in  his  manuscript  history  of  the  states  of  Syria,  believes 
that  this  city,  so  named  by  the  historians  of  the  crusade,  is  the  citv  of 
Eleutberopolis,  situated  nine  or  ten  leases  east  of  Ascalon,  on  the  road 
to  Jerusalem,  in  a  valley  crossed  by  the  torrent  of  Ascalon,  seven  leagues 
west  of  Jerusalem,  and  sLt  of  Rair.la. 


IIISTOEY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  493 

mais,  where  the  Crusaders  could  look  for  provisions  to  the 
Mediterranean,  they  had  experienced  all  the  horrors  of 
famine,  what  miseries  had  they  not  reason  to  expect  under 
the  walls  of  Jerusalem  ?  Mussulman  troops  were  encamped 
in  the  plains  of  Jericho  and  Hebron,  and  in  the  country  of 
jSaplouse,  and  had  the  power  at  all  times  to  throw  succour 
into  Jerusalem,  if  that  city  were  besieged  by  the  Christians. 
Winter,  besides,  was  beginning  to  create  a  dread  of  conta- 
gious diseases  ;  the  leaders  of  the  army  were  divided  among 
themselves,  and  even  the  sight  of  danger  could  scarcely  bring 
them  to  act  in  concert.  All  these  circumstances  produced 
doubt  and  irresolution  in  the  minds  of  Kichard  and  the  most 
prudent  of  the  barons  and  knights. 

Hichard  entertained  hopes  that  Saladin  would  come  and 
offer  him  battle,  and  that  a  victory  would  at  once  throw  open 
the  gates  of  Jerusalem  to  him  ;  but  the  sultan,  who  had 
proved  the  strength  and  bravery  of  the  Christians  at  Arsur, 
was  not  willing  to  expose  his  conquests  to  the  hazard  of  a 
battle.  E-ichard,  on  his  part,  dreaded  the  perils  and  fatigues 
of  a  protracted  siege,  and  suddenly  led  back  his  army  to  the 
plains  of  Ascalou. 

The  multitude  of  the  Crusaders,  who  were  ignorant  of  or 
did  not  appreciate  the  motives  of  the  king  of  England,  only 
obeyed  him  with  murmurs,  and  most  of  the  leaders,  declared 
enemies  of  E-ichard,  mingled  their  complaints  with  those  of 
the  soldiers.  Several  dissatisfied  Crusaders  deserted  the 
standards  which  no  longer  pointed  out  to  them  the  road  to 
Jerusalem. 

Whilst  the  army  was  marching  despondingly  back  to  the 
plains  of  Ascalon,  the  Genoese  and  Pisans,  continually  at 
variance,  broke  into  open  war  within  the  walls  of  Ptolemais. 
Conrad  took  part  with  the  Grenoese,  whilst  the  king  of 
England  as  eagerly  defended  the  Pisans,  and  terminated 
tliis  civil  war  by  forcing  Conrad  and  the  Grenoese  to  retreat 
to  the  city  of  Tyre. 

Amidst  these  sanguinary  disputes,  Conrad,  who  had  an 
ambassador  at  the  court  of  Saladin,  unable  longer  to  endure 
the  authority  of  liichard,  entered  into  an  alliance  with  the 
Mussulmans.  Saladin,  by  treaty,  abandoned  to  the  marquis 
of  Tyre  all  the  cities  the  latter  might  take  from  the  Chris- 
tians, and  promised  to  aid  him  in  his  conquests,  only  re- 


494  niSTOEY    OF    THE   CEUSADES. 

servine:  the  "bootv  for  the  Mussulman  soldiers.  This  treaty, 
dictated  bv  hatred  to  Eichard,  was  the  signal  for  the  death 
of  Conrad;  a  very  short  time  afterwards  the  marquis  of 
Tyre  perished  by  an  unknowTi  hand. 

English  authors  assert  that  Conrad  had  had  quarrels  with 
the  chief  of  the  IsmaeHans,  and  that  he  was  assassinated  by 
the  orders  of  this  redoubtable  enemv.  Two  youusj  slaves  left 
the  voluptuous  gardens,  in  which  their  master  had  brought 
them  up,  to  execute  his  vengeance.  They  arrived  at  T^Te, 
and,  in  order  to  conceal  their  purpose  the  better,  received 
baotism.  Thev  engaged  tliemselves  in  the  serm-e  of  Conrad, 
and  remained  six  months-  about  his  person,  apparently  only 
occupied  in  offering  up  prayers  to  the  God  of  the  Christians. 
One  day,  as  the  marquis  was  coming  from  dining  with  the 
bishop  of  Beauvais,  the  two  Ismaelians  attacked  him,  and 
"wounded  him  mortally.  ^Iiilst  the  people  congregated 
tumultuously,  one  of  the  assassins  fled  into  a  neighboiunng 
church,  into  which,  likewise,  the  bleeding  marquis  was 
borne.  The  Ismaeiian,  who  had  concealed  himself,  suddenly 
rushed  through  the  crowd,  and  again  falling  upon  Conrad, 
struck  him  repeatedly  with  his  dagger,  till  he  was  quite 
dead.  The  two  assassins  were  seized,  and  both  died  amidst 
tortures,  without  uttering  a  single  gi'oan,  or  naming  the 
person  who  had  employed  them  to  take  away  the  life  of  the 
marquis  of  Tyre.* 

The  continuator  of  Tabarv  savs  that  Saladin  had  offered 
the  Old  Man  of  the  Mountains  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold 
if  he  would  cause  the  marquis  of  Tyre  and  the  king  of 
England  to  be  assassinated ;  but  the  prince  of  the  moun- 
taui,  adds  the  same  historian,  did  not  think  proper  to  deliver 
Saladin  entirely  from  his  war  with  the  Franks,  and  only 
performed  half  of  that  which  had  been  required  of  him. 
The  Christians  did  not  attribute  the  death  of  Conrad  to 
Saladm,  but  many  among  them  accused  Eichard  of  it.  A 
short  time  after  the  murder,  a  letter  was  published,  in  which 
the  lord  of  the  mountain  avowed  himsell'  to  be  the  author 
of  the  assassination ;  but  this  letter  bore  no  character  of 
authenticitv  about  it.     The  savage  lord  of  the  mountain 

*  The  assassination  of  Conrad  is  thus  related  in  the  continuator  of 
Tahary. — See  the  MS.  of  D.  Berthereau. 


HISTORY    OF    TUE   CETJSADES.  495 

coiild  not  write,  and  could  have  no  interest  in  making  the 
apology  of  a  Christian  prince.*  The  king  of  England  him- 
self strengthened  the  public  suspicions  by  taking  possession 
of  Tyre,  and  giving  the  widow  of  Conrad  in  marriage  to  his 
nephew,  the  count  of  Champagne.  However  it  may  be, 
this  accusation,  which  was  accredited  among  the  Christians, 
announced  plainly  the  idea  they  entertained  of  the  character 
of  Eichard.  The  account  of  the  death  of  Conrad  soon 
reached  Europe,  and  Philip  Augustus,  dreading  the  same 
fate,  no  longer  appeared  in  public  without  being  surrounded 
by  a  guard.  The  court  of  France  accused  Eichard  of  the 
blackest  attempts ;  but  it  is  probable  that  Philip,  on  this 
occasion,  showed  more  fear  than  he  really  felt,  in  order  to 
render  his  rival  the  more  odious,  and  to  arm  against  him  the 
hatred  of  the  pope,  and  the  indignation  of  all  the  princes  of 
Christendom. 

After  the  death  of  Conrad,  Eichard  had  no  rivals  to  sus- 
pect, or  enemies  to  fight  with  among  the  Christians ;  the 
opinion  even  that  was  entertained  of  his  character,  only 
served  to  augment  his  authority,  by  creating  a  dread  of  his 
hatred  or  vengeance.  He  took  advantage  of  a  moment,  in 
which  Saladin  disbanded  part  of  his  army,  to  get  possession 
of  the  castle  of  Darcum,  built  upon  the  confines  of  Pales- 
tine, towards  Egypt.  He  undertook  several  other  enter- 
prises, which  spread  terror  and  surprise  among  the  Sara- 
cens ;  and,  all  at  once,  to  satisfy  the  wishes  of  the  Crusaders, 
marched  towards  Jerusalem,  in  which  city  Saladin  had  shut 
himself  up  with  all  the  troops  he  could  gather  together.  At 
the  approach  of  the  Christians,  the  sidtan  convoked  his 
emirs,  and  made  them  swear,  on  the  stone  of  Jacob,  to  be 
buried  beneath  the  ruins  of  the  city  rather  than  yield  it  up 
to  the  soldiers  of  Eichard. 

The  Christian  army  encamped  at  the  foot  of  the  moun- 
tains of  Judea,  all  the  passes  of  which  were  guarded  by  the 
troops  of  Saladin  and  the  Saracen  peasants  of  Naplouse  and 
Hebron.     As  Eichard  di^ew  near  to  Jerusalem,  his  aversion 

*  Our  author's  argument  is  very  weak  here.  Gibbon  says  :— "  I  can- 
not believe  that  a  soldier  so  free  and  fearless  in  the  use  of  his  lance  as 
Richard,  would  have  descended  to  whet  a  dagger  against  his  valiant 
brother  Conrad  de  Montferrat. "—Z>edme  and  Fall,  vol.  viii.  p.  426.— 
Trans. 


496  uisTOEY  or  the  crusjjjes. 

to  the  idea  of  allowing  the  duke  of  Austria  and  the  duke  of 
Bui'Ofundy  to  share  in  such  a  glorious  conquest  increased  ; 
whilst  ther  were  not  at  all  willinor  to  assist  the  kiasr  of 
England  in  an  enterprise  that  would  so  much  augment  his 
pride  and  renown.  Erery  time  that  he  proposed  to  proceed 
against  the  holy  city,  the  zeal  of  the  leaders  of  the  army 
appeared  to  cool;*  and  when  Eichard  sought  to  defer  the 
conquest,  most  of  them  endeavoured  to  arouse  the  enthu- 
siasm of  the  Crusaders,  and  repeated  the  oath  they  had 
taken  to  deliver  the  tomb  of  Christ.  Thus  the  proximity  to 
Jerusalem,  which  ought  to  have  united  the  Christians  more 
firmly,  only  served  to  increase  their  di^'isions,  and  spread 
trouble,  disorder,  and  discouragement  through  the  whole 
armv. 

The  Christians  were  but  a  few  leagues  from  Jerusalem, 
and  the  council  assembled  to  determine  what  steps  must  be 
taken.  Manv  of  the  leaders  thouorht  that  thev  ouiiht  at 
once  to  besiege  the  city,  and  spoke  of  the  consternation 
of  the  Mussulmans.  The  soldiers  of  Saladin,  said  they, 
had  not  forgotten  the  evils  of  Ptolema'is,  and  trembled  at 
the  idea  of  again  shutting  themselves  within  the  ramparts 
of  a  citv.  Eusdtives  from  Jerusalem  had  informed  them  that 
the  presence  even  of  Saladin  could  not  keep  up  the  spirits  of 
the  soldiers,  and  that  all  the  inhabitants,  seized  with  terror, 
were  upon  the  point  of  fiying  to  Damascus. 

They  who  maintained  an  opposite  opinion,  among  whom 
was  Eichard,  thought  that  the  reports  spread  regarding  the 
disposition  of  the  Mussulmans  were  but  a  snare  of  Saladin's, 
by  which  he  hoped  to  lure  the  Crusaders  into  places  in 
which  he  could  destrov  them  without  fi2:htino:.  "At  the 
moment  in  which  we  are  speaking,"  said  they,  "the  Mus- 

*  It  is  difficult  to  follow  the  accounts  of  several  historians  at  this 
period,  who  affirm  that  Richard  was  not  willing  to  take  Jerusalem.  M. 
Paultre,  a  distinguished  officer  who  made  ihe  campaign  of  1799,  has  fur- 
nished us  with  all  the  means  of  understanding  the  old  chronicles,  and  to 
appreciate  their  testimony.  Historians,  from  ignorance  of  the  country, 
are  often  deceived  with  resjiect  to  military  events.  The  situation  of 
places  and  a  knowledge  of  tlie  country  are  often  the  best  commentaries 
we  can  have  upon  the  old  historians  of  the  crusades.  M.  Paultre  has 
MmseLf  related  part  of  the  events  which  we  repeat  ;  and  his  account, 
which  he  hais  kindly  confided  to  us,  has  giren  us  useful  information,  which 
will  throw  light  upon  this  part  of  onr  history. 


HISTOIIY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  497 

sulmau  cavalry  surround  the  plain  on  wliich  our  army  is 
encamped.  It  is  difficult  and  dangerous  to  advance  across 
the  mountains  of  Judea.  The  roads,  bordered  bj  precipices, 
are,  in  many  places,  cut  through  the  solid  rock,  and  are 
dominated  by  steep  heights,  from  -which  ill-armed  peasants 
will  be  sufficient  to  crush,  or  at  least  to  stop  the  columns  of 
the  Christians.  How  are  we  to  transport  through  such 
narrow  passes  our  baggage,  our  machines,  or  our  munitions 
of  war  ?  If  our  bravery  should  succeed  in  surmounting  all 
these  difficulties,  will  it  be  easy  to  keep  up  our  communi- 
cations with  the  coast  ?  If  we  are  conquered,  how  shall 
we  make  our  retreat,  pursued  by  the  army  of  Saladin  ?" 

Opinions  continued  to  be  divided :  the  king  of  England 
wished  to  retreat  to  Ascalon ;  whilst  the  dukes  of  Austria 
and  Burgundy  warmly  maintained  that  they  ought  to  march 
towards  Jerusalem.  Twenty-four  knights  were  selected  to 
determine  upon  the  course  that  was  to  be  adopted,  and  the 
Christian  army  awaited  their  decision  ^vith  an  impatience 
mingled  with  fear.  After  having  deliberated  for  some  time, 
the  twenty-four  knights  concluded  that  the  army  could  not 
pursue  its  march  without  danger,  and  that  the  most 
prudent  plan  would  be  to  retreat  towards  the  sea-coast. 
Eichard,  after  having  given  the  order  for  retreat,  whether 
he  was  sincerely  afflicted,  or  whether  he  wished  to  regain 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  Crusaders,  turned  towards 
Jerusalem  with  his  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and  covering  his 
face  with  his  buckler,  declared  himself  unworthy  to  behold  a 
city  that  he  could  not  conquer. 

The  Crusaders  once  more  turned  their  backs  upon  Jeru- 
salem, which  they  had  sworn  so  ofteii  and  so  solemnly  to 
deliver,  the  soldiers  totally  unable  to  comprehend  the  policy 
or  intentions  of  their  leaders.  E-ichard,  Avho  had  led  the 
Christian  army  towards  the  holy  city,  might  at  least  be 
accused  of  want  of  determination  of  purpose.*  The  un- 
certainty of  his  plans  completed  the  destruction  of  the 
confidence  which  his  skill  and  great  military  talents  had 
created;  and  tlie  despair  of  the  Crusaders  put  an  end  to 
the  fear  of  a  chief  they  no  longer  loved.  Discord  broke  out 
with  fresh  fury ;    such  as  remained  partisans  of  Eichard, 

*  Gibbon's  conclusion  is  very  different.  He  says,  "The  laurels  of  Richard 
were  bUsted  by  the  prudence  or  enry  of  his  companions." — Trans. 


498  nisTOKT  OF  the  chusades. 

reproached  his  enemies  "with  misleading  the  spirit  of  the 
army  ;  but  all  parties  mutually  accused  each  other  of  favour- 
ing the  cause  of  the  infidels.  As  is  generally  the  case  in 
unsuccessful  wars,  perfidy  and  treachery  were  the  subjects 
most  current  among  the  Crusaders. 

The  most  violent  complaints  were  uttered  against  Richard, 
who  replied  to  his  enemies  in  a  strain  of  high-minded  bra- 
very, worthy  of  an  Amadis  or  a  Roland.  At  the  head  of  a 
weak  detachment,  he  took  a  convoy  of  seven  thousand 
camels  on  the  way  to  Jerusalem ;  on  another  occasion,  going 
on  board  a  vessel  with  a  few  knights,  he  landed  at  Jafia, 
where  the  banners  of  Saladin  floated  over  the  towers  and 
ramparts ;  he  pursued  the  conquerors  sword  in  hand,  and 
forced  them  to  abandon  their  temporaiy  conquest.  A  few 
days  after,  the  king  of  England,  with  a  troop  of  his  chosen 
knights,  attacked  a  body  of  seven  thousand  Mussulman 
horse ;  he  rushed  in  amongst  them,  and  with  a  stroke  of  his 
sabre  struck  dead  at  his  feet  the  leader  of  the  Saracens,  who 
all  appeared  stupified  and  motionless  witli  surprise  and  fear. 

But  all  these  perils  and  all  this  glory  were  lost  for  the 
cause  of  the  Cliristians.  Richard  became  every  day  more 
odious  to  his  associates  ;  the  duke  of  Burgundy  with  the 
French  retired  discontented  to  Ptolema'is ;  the  Grennans, 
commanded  by  the  duke  of  Austria,  quitted  Palestine,  and 
Richard  remained  alone  with  the  English.*  Hitherto  the 
king  of  England,  as  he  himself  told  the  ambassadors  of 
Saladin,  had  taken  but  little  interest  in  the  deliverance  of 
the  holy  places,  and  had  only  performed  such  prodigies 
of  valour  to  increase  his  fame  in  the  Christian  world.  A 
desire  to  eflace  the  glory  of  Philip,  much  more  than  a  zeal  for 
religion,  governed  him  in  his  contests  with  the  Saracens  ;  he 
underwent  the  labours  of  the  holy  war  in  the  hope  that  his 
exploits  in  Palestine  would  assist  him  in  triumphing  over  his 

*  The  historian  Bohaeddin  rebates  that  Richard,  in  an  interview  with 
Aboubeker,  the  ambassador  of  Saladin,  said — "  That  he  only  sought  for 
a  pretext  to  return  to  Europe  ;  that  he  took  little  interest  in  the  affairs  of 
Palestine ;  that  the  Christians  could  not  stand  against  the  Mussulman 
power  when  deprived  of  his  support;  that  a  very  small  force  would  be 
sufficient  to  take  the  few  places  they  still  possessed  ;  that  the  sultan  need 
not  be  difficult,  as  the  peace  would  only  be  simulated,  and  would  serve 
to  remove  the  only  obstacle  to  the  conquests  of  that  prince." — See  Life 
of  Saladin,  by  Marin. 


HISTORY   OP   THE    CEUSADES.  499 

rivals  and  enemies  beyond  tlie  seas  ;  but  as  lie  began  to  fear 
being  left  without  an  army,  and  dreaded  the  enterprises 
of  Phdip,  and  the  plots  of  his  brother  John,  against  his 
Eiu-opean  states,  he  determined  to  resume  his  negotiations 
\Yith  Saladin.  The  various  thou2:hts  that  harassed  his 
mind,  the  shame  of  not  having  couquered  Jerusalem,  the 
fear  of  losing  his  own  kingdom,  made  him  adopt  and  reject 
resolutions  of  the  most  opposite  nature.  At  one  time  he 
determined  upon  returning  to  Europe  without  making  peace 
at  all — first  lie  supplicated,  then  he  menaced  Saladin,  and 
endeavoured  to  frighten  him,  by  spreading  a  report  that  the 
pope  was  about  to  arrive  in  Palestine  with  an  army  of  two 
hundred  thousand  Crusaders. 

Winter  had  not  yet  passed  away,  and  the  passage  of  the 
Mediterranean  was  not  without  danger.  "The  sea  is  stormy," 
wrote  he  one  day  to  Saladin,  "  but  I  will  brave  its  tempests, 
and  return  to  Europe  if  you  are  disposed  to  make  peace. 
But  if  you  stdl  desire  war,  I  will  brave  all  its  perils,  and  will 
lay  siege  to  Jerusalem."  Saladin  was  encamped  in  the 
vicinity  of  Hamla,  and  called  his  emirs  together  to  deliberate 
upon  the  proposals  of  Kichard.  "Up  to  this  period,"  said 
he,  "  we  have  fought  with  glory,  and  the  cause  of  Islamism 
has  triumphed  by  our  arms.  I  fear  that  death  may  surprise 
me  during  a  peace,  and  may  prevent  my  terminating  the 
good  work  we  have  begun.  Since  Grod  gives  us  victory,  he 
commands  us  to  continue  the  war,  and  we  ought  to  obey  his 
■\^tLi."  Most  of  the  emirs  applauded  the  courage  and  firm- 
ness of  Saladin,  but  they  represented  to  him,  "  that  the  cities 
were  without  defence,  and  the  provinces  were  devastated; 
the  fatigues  of  war  had  weakened  the  Mussulman  army ;  the 
horses  wanted  forage,  and  provisions  for  the  soldiers  were 
dearer  than  gold."  "If  we  reduce  the  Franks  to  despair," 
added  they,  "  they  may  still  overcome  us,  and  wrest  all  our 
victories  from  our  hands.  It  is  wise  to  observe  the  maxim 
of  the  Koran,  which  orders  us  to  grant  peace  to  our  enemies 
when  they  ask  it.  Peace  will  give  us  time  to  fortify  our 
cities,  to  recruit  our  forces,  and  resume  the  war  with  advan- 
tage ;  when  the  Pranks,  always  faithless  in  treaties,  will 
offer  us  fresh  pretexts  for  attacking  them." 

Saladin  plainly  perceived  by  this  speech  of  his  emirs,  that 
the  greater  part  of  the  Saracen  warriors  were  beginning  to 

Vol.  I.— 23 


500  UISTORY    OE    THE    CEUSADES. 

lose  the  ardour  and  zeal  they  had  evinced  for  the  cause  of 
Islamism.  The  sultau  was  abandoned  by  sereral  of  his 
auxiliaries,  and  dreaded  the  appearance  of  division  in 
his  own  empire.  The  armies  were  close  to  each  other, 
and  the  dust  which  arose  from  the  two  camps,  says  an 
Arabian  author,  mingled  in  the  air  and  formed  but  one 
cloud.  Keither  the  Christians  nor  the  Mussulmans  showed 
the  least  impatience  to  go  beyond  the  boundaries  of  their 
ramparts  and  ditches,  and  both  being  equally  tired  of  the 
war,  it  became  the  interest  of  the  two  leaders  to  make 
peace.  The  disposition  of  the  minds  of  the  combatants, 
with  the  impossibility  of  pursuing  any  warlike  enterprises, 
at  length  led  to  the  adoption  of  a  truce  for  three  years  and 
eight  months.* 

It  was  determined  that  Jerusalem  should  be  open  to  the 
devotion  of  the  Christians,  and  that  they  should  hold  all  the 
seacoast  from  Jaffa  to  Tyre.  The  Saracens  and  the  Chris- 
tians had  both  claims  upon  Ascalon,  which  M'as  considered 
as  the  key  to  Egypt,  and  which  the  Arabs  called  the  spouse 
of  Syria.  To  terminate  these  disputes,  it  was  agreed  that 
this  city  should  be  again  demolished.  It  is  not  unwortliy 
of  remark,  tliat  not  a  word  was  said  about  the  true  cross, 
which  had  been  the  subject  of  the  first  negotiations,  and  for 
which  Eichard  had  sent  several  ambassadors  to  Saladin.  The 
principal  leaders  of  the  two  armies  swore,  on  the  one  side 
upon  the  Koran,  and  on  the  other  upon  the  Gospel,  to 
observe  the  conditions  of  the  treaty.  Eoyal  majesty  assumed 
something  more  imposing  and  august  than  even  the  sanctity 
of  an  oath,  for  the  sultan  and  the  king  of  England  contented 
themselves  with  givmg  their  word  and  touching  the  hands 
of  the  ambassadors. 

All  the  Mussulman  and  Christian  princes  of  Syria  were 
in\'ited  to  sign  the  treaty  concluded  between  Eichard  and 
Saladin.  Among  those  who  were  called  upon  to  be  guaran- 
tees of  the  peace,  neither  the  prince  of  Antioch,  who  had 
taken  little  share  in  the  war,  nor  the  chief  of  the  Ismaelians, 
the  enemy  of  both  Christians  and  Mussuhnans,  was  forgot- 

*  The  Latin  historians  say  that  the  truce  was  for  three  years,  three 
months,  three  weeks,  and  three  days.  We  prefer  the  version  of  the  Oriental 
writers,  who  say  that  the  truce  was  for  three  years  and  eight  months. 
Omad,  whose  account  we  adopt,  declares  he  wrote  the  treaty  with  his  own 
hand. 


HISTOllY   OF    THE    CRUSADES.  501 

tcD.  Gruy  de  Lusignan  alone  was  not  named  in  tlie  treaty. 
This  prince  enjoyed  a  momentary  importance  from  tlie  dis- 
sensions he  had  given  birth  to,  and  sunk  into  oblivion  as 
soon  as  fresh  subjects  of  discord  arose  among  the  Crusaders. 
Despoiled  of  his  kingdom,  he  obtained  that  of  Cyprus,  a  far 
more  real  possession,  but  for  which  he  was  obliged  to  pay 
the  Templars,  to  whom  Eichard  had  sold  it.  Palestine  was 
ceded  to  Henry,  count  of  Champagne,  the  new  husband  of 
that  Isabella  who  appeared  to  be  promised  to  all  the  pre- 
tenders to  the  crown  of  Jerusalem,  and  who,  by  a  singular 
destiny,  had  married  three  kings,  without  being  able  to 
ascend  a  throne. 

The  conclusion  of  the  peace  was  celebrated  by  tourna- 
ments and  festivities,  inwhicli  the  Mussulmans  and  Christians 
laid  aside  the  fanaticism  and  hatred  which  had  led  them  to 
shed  so  much  blood.  Most  of  the  warriors  of  the  West,  by 
the  invitation  of  Saladin,  visited  the  holy  places  they  had  been 
unable  to  deliver,  and  then  embarked  for  Europe.  At  the 
moment  of  departure,  the  French  lost  the  duke  of  Burgundy, 
who  fell  sick  and  died  in  the  city  of  Tyre,  as  he  was  pre- 
paring to  leave  Palestine. 

Thus. finished  this  third  crusade,  in  which  all  the  western 
powers  in  arms  obtained  no  greater  advantages  than  the 
taking  of  Ptolemais  and  the  demolition  of  Ascalon ;  in  it 
Germany  lost,  without  glory,  one  of  the  greatest  of  its 
emperors  and  the  finest  of  its  armies.  If  we  may  believe 
Arabian  authors,  six  hundred  thousand  Crusaders  appeared 
before  Ptolemais,  and  scarcely  one  hundred  thousand  of 
these  warriors  saw  their  native  country  again.  Europe  had 
the  greater  reason  to  deplore  the  losses  of  this  war,  from  the 
fact  of  her  armies  having  been  so  much  better  composed  than 
in  preceding  expeditions  ;  criminals,  adventurers,  and  vaga- 
bonds, had  been  strictly  excluded  from  the  ranks.  All  that 
the  West  could  boast  of  the  most  noble  and  illustrious  of  its 
warriors  had  taken  up  arms. 

The  Crusaders  that  contended  mth  Saladin  were  better 
armed  and  better  disciplined  than  any  that  preceded  them  in 
Palestine  ;  the  foot-soldiers  employed  the  cross-bow,  which 
had  been  neglected  or  prohibited  in  the  second  crusade. 

*  Gibbon  says, — "  A  personal  interview  with  Richard  was  declined  by 
Saladin,  who  alleged  their  mutual  ignorance  of  each  other's  language." — 
Vol.  viii.  p.  429. —Trans. 


502  HiSTonr  or  the  CErsADEs. 

Their  cuirasses,  and  tlieir  bucklers  covered  with  thick  leather, 
defied  the  arrows  of  the  Saracens ;  and  on  the  field  of  battle, 
soldiers  were  often  seen  bristling  M^ith  arrows  and  darts, 
whom  the  Arabs  compared  to  porcupines,  still  keeping  their 
ranks  and  fighting  bravely.  The  Saracens  had  likewise  made 
some  progress  in  the  art  of  war,  and  began  to  resume  the  use 
of  the  lance,  whch  they  did  not  employ  when  the  first  Cru- 
saders arrived  in  Svria.  The  Mussulman  armies  were  not 
confused  multitudes ;  they  remained  longer  under  their 
banners,  and  fought  with  less  disorder.  The  Curds  and 
Turks  surpassed  the  i'ranks  in  the  art  of  attacking  and 
defending  cities  and  castles.  The  Mussulmans  had,  besides, 
more  than  one  advantage  over  the  Crusaders ;  they  made 
war  upon  their  own  territories  and  in  their  own  climate  ;  they 
were  under  the  command  of  one  single  leader,  who  communi- 
cated the  same  spirit  to  all,  and  only  presented  to  them  one 
cause  to  defend. 

In  this  crusade  the  Pranks  appeared  to  be  more  polished 
than  they  had  been  till  that  time.  Great  monarchs  making 
war  against  each  other  without  ceasing  to  give  evidences  of 
mutual  esteem  and  generous  feeling,  was  a  new  spectacle  for 
the  world.  Subjects  followed  the  example  of  their  princes, 
and  lost  beneath  the  tent  much  of  their  barbarism.  The 
Crusaders  were  sometimes  admitted  to  the  table  of  Saladiu, 
and  emirs  received  at  that  of  Eichard.  By  thus  mingling 
together,  Saracens  and  Chi'istians  might  make  a  happy 
exchange  of  usages,  manners,  knowledge,  and  even  virtues. 

The  Christians,  rather  more  enlightened  than  during  the 
first  crusades,  stood  in  less  need  of  excitement  from  the 
visions  of  fanaticism.  The  passion  for  glory  was  for  them 
almost  as  powerful  a  principle  as  religious  entliusiasm. 
Chivalry  also  made  great  progress  in  this  crusade ;  it  was 
held  in  such  honour,  and  the  title  of  k^'ight  was  so  glorious, 
even  in  the  eves  of  the  infidels,  that  Saladin  did  not  disdain 
to  be  decorated  with  it. 

The  sentiment  of  honour,  and  the  humanity  which  is 
inseparable  from  it,  often  dried  tears  that  the  disasters  of 
war  had  caused  to  flow  ;  tender  and  ATrtuous  passions  associ- 
ated themselves  in  the  minds  of  heroes  with  the  austere 
maxims  of  religion  and  the  sanguinary  images  of  battle. 
Amidst   the   comiption   of  camps,  love,  by  inspiring  the 


HTSTOET   OF   THE    CEUSADES.  603 

kniglits  and  troubadours  who  had  taken  the  cross  with  noble 
and  delicate  sentiments,  preserved  them  from  the  seductions 
of  gross  debauchery.  More  than  one  warrior,  animated  by 
the  remembrance  of  beauty,  caused  his  bravery  to  be  greatly 
admired,  whilst  fighting  against  the  Saracens.  It  was  in  this 
crusade  that  the  Chatelain  de  Coucy  fell,  mortally  wounded, 
by  the  side  of  King  Eichaed.  In  a  song,  which  is  still 
extant,  he  had  bid  adieu  to  Prance,  saying  that  he  went  to 
the  Holy  Land  to  obtain  three  things  of  inestimable  value  to 
a  knight, — Paradise,  glory^  and  the  love  of  his  mistress*  A 
chronicle  of  the  middle  ages  relates,  that  after  he  had 
received  a  mortal  wound  and  was  about  to  breathe  his  last 
siirh,  the  faithful  Chatelain  first  confessed  himself  to  the 
legate  of  the  Pope,  and  then  charged  his  squire  to  bear  his 
heart  to  the  lady  de  Payel.  The  last  commands  of  Coucy, 
and  the  horrible  banquet  that  a  cruel  husband  caused  to  be 
served  up  to  the  victim  of  his  jealousy,  show  at  once  what 
chivalry  could  inspire  of  the  most  touching  kind,  and  that 
which  the  manners  of  the  twelfth  century  could  exhibit  of 
the  most  barbarous. f  The  troubadours  celebrated  in  their 
songs  the  chivalric  love  of  the  noble  Chatelain,  and  the 
despair  of  the  beautiful  De  Vergy,  when  she  learnt  she  had 
eaten  the  heart  of  her  faithful  knight.  If  we  may  believe 
old  chronicles,  the  lord  de  Payel,  pursued  by  remorse  and  the 
opinion  of  his  contemporaries,  was  obliged  to  go  to  the  Holy 
Land,  to  expiate  his  crime  and  the  death  of  his  unfortunate 
wife. 

In  this  crusade,  in  which  so  many  knights  rendered  them- 

*  L'amour  de  sa  mie. — Trans. 

t  The  adventures  of  the  Chatelain  de  Coucy  and  the  lady  de  Fay  el  are 
related  in  an  old  chronicle  quoted  by  the  President  Faucher.  There 
exists  in  the  Imperial  Library  a  manuscript  copy  of  this  chronicle,  which 
appears  to  have  been  written  towards  the  beginning  of  the  thirteenth 
century,  a  short  time  after  the  third  crusade.  M.  Roquefort,  whose 
authority  is  of  great  weight  in  all  which  concerns  the  middle  ages,  does 
not  appear  to  adopt  the  account  of  the  chronicle  quoted  in  his  article 
♦'  Coucy"  of  La  Biograpfde  Universelle,  and  is  of  the  opinion  of  Father 
Papon,  who  attributes  the  adventure  of  the  Chatelain  to  the  troubadour 
Cabestan.  We  may  object  to  M.  Roquefort,  that  the  adventure  of 
Cabestan  is  not  the  same  as  that  of  Coucy,  and  that  one  may  be  true 
without  rendering  the  other  doubtful.  We  find  in  the  works  of  Belloy 
a  dissertation  which  has  not  been  refuted,  which  proves  the  truth,  if  not  of 
some  details,  of  the  principal  facts  related  in  the  chronicle  we  have  quoted. 


50^  msTOiir  or  tile  ceusades. 

selves  illustrious,  two  men  acquired  an  immortal  glory,  one 
by  a  useless  bravery,  and  qualities  more  brilliant  than  solid, 
the  other  by  real  successes  and  virtues  that  mi^^ht  have 
served  as  models  to  Christians.  The  name  of  Eichard  re- 
mained during  a  century  the  terror  of  the  East,  and  the 
Saracens  and  Turks  celebrated  him  in  their  proverbs  a  long 
time  after  the  crusades.  He  cultivated  letters,  and  merited 
a  place  among  the  troubadours ;  but  the  arts  did  not  at  all 
soften  his  character  ;  it  was  his  ferocitv  as  well  as  his  courag^e 
that  procured  him  the  surname  of  Cceur  de  Lion.  Carried 
awav  bv  the  inconstancy  of  his  inclinations,  he  often  chancjed 
his  projects,  his  affections,  and  his  principles  of  action ;  he 
sometimes  braved  religion,  and  very  often  devoted  himself  to 
its  service.  Sometimes  hicredLdous,  as  often  superstitious  ; 
measureless  in  his  hatred  as  in  his  friendship,  he  was  extra- 
vao^ant  in  evervthiuEf,  and  only  showed  himself  constant  in 
his  love  for  war.  The  passions  which  animated  him  scarcely 
ever  permitted  his  ambition  to  have  an  aim  or  a  determinate 
object.  His  imprudence,  his  presumption,  and  the  unsteadi- 
ness of  his  plans,  made  him  lose  the  fruits  of  his  exploits. 
In  a  word,  the  hero  of  this  crusade  is  more  calculated  to 
excite  surprise  than  to  create  esteem,  and  appears  to  belong 
less  to  history  than  to  the  romances  of  chivalry. 

AYith  less  rasliness  and  bravery  than  Eichard,  Saladin 
possessed  a  more  firm  character,  one  far  better  calculated 
to  carry  on  a  religious  war.  He  paid  more  attention  to  the 
results  of  his  enterprises ;  more  master  of  himself,  he  was 
more  fit  to  command  others.  AVhen  mountinc:  the  throne 
of  the  Atabeks,  Saladin  obeyed  rather  his  destiny  than  his 
inclinations  ;  but  when  once  firmly  seated,  he  was  governed 
by  only  two  passions, — that  of  reigning,  and  that  of  securing 
the  triumph  of  the  Koran.  On  all  other  subjects  he  was 
moderate,  and  when  a  kiugdom  or  the  glory  of  the  prophet 
was  not  in  question,  the  son  of  Ayoub  was  admired  as  the 
most  just  and  mild  of  Mussulmans.  We  may  add  that  the 
stern  devotion*  and  ardent  fanaticism  that  made  him  take 
up  arms  against  the  Christians,  only  rendered  him  cruel  and 

*  Saladin  had  but  little  indulgence  in  religious  matters.  The  Abbe 
Renaudot,  in  his  manuscript  history,  relates  that  he  caused  a  philosopher 
to  be  strangled  who  ventured  to  preach  new  doctrines  in  the  city  of 
Aleppo. 


IIISTOEY   OF   THE    CEUSADES.  505 

btirbarous  in  one  single  instance.  He  displayed  the  virtues 
of  peace  amidst  the  horrors  of  war.  "  From  the  bosom  of 
camps,"  says  an  Oriental  poet,  "  lie  covered  the  nations  tvith 
the  wings  of  his  justice,  and  poured  upon  his  cities  the  plen- 
teous showers  of  his  liherality.''''  The  Mussulmans,  always 
governed  by  fear,*  were  astonished  that  a  sovereign  could 
inspire  them  with  so  much  love,  and  followed  him  with  joy 
to  battle.  His  generosity,  his  clemency,  and  particularly 
his  respect  for  an  oath,  were  often  the  subjects  of  admiration 
to  the  Christians,  whom  he  rendered  so  miserable  by  his 
victories,  and  of  Avhose  power  in  Asia  he  had  completed  the 
overthrow. t 

*  To  know  the  character  and  virtues  of  Saladin,  it  is  sufficient  to  quote 
the  discourse  he  addressed  to  his  son  El-daher,  to  whom  he  had  confided 
the  government  of  a  province  : — "  My  son,"  said  he,  "  you  are  about  to 
reign  over  states  that  I  have  bestowed  upon  you.  My  infirmities  give  me 
reason  to  fear  that  I  may  never  see  you  again;  I  recommend  you,  then, 
my  son,  as  my  last  command,  to  love  and  honour  God,  who  is  the  source  of 
all  good,  and  to  observe  the  precepts  of  his  law  ;  for  your  welfare  depends 
upon  it.  Spare  human  blood,  for  fear  it  should  fall  again  upon  your  own 
head  ;  for  blood  once  shed  never  sleeps.  Endeavour  to  gain  the  hearts  of 
your  subjects  ;  administer  justice,  and  be  as  careful  of  their  interests  as 
of  your  own.  You  will  have  to  render  an  account  to  God  of  this  trust 
which  I  confide  to  you  in  his  name.  Show  respect  and  condescension  for 
the  emirs,  the  imauns,  the  caliphs,  and  all  persons  placed  in  authority.  It 
is  only  by  mildness  and  clemency  that  I  have  attained  the  elevated  posi- 
tion in  which  you  behold  me.  We  are  all  mortal,  O  my  son  1  entertain 
then  no  malice,  no  hatred  against  any  one.  Be  careful,  above  all  things, 
to  offend  nobody  ;  men  only  forget  injuries  when  they  have  revenged 
them,  whilst  God  grants  us  pardon  for  our  errors  for  a  simple  repentance  ; 
for  he  is  beneficent  and  merciful."  This  speech  of  Saladin  to  his  son  has 
been  transmitted  to  us  by  Bohaeddin,  who  heard  it  delivered. — See  the 
Life  of  Saladin,  by  Marin,  book  xiii. 

t  Although,  happily,  the  time  is  gone  by  in  which  an  English  writer 
would  break  a  lance  in  defence  of  the  entire  character  of  Richard,  much 
as  I  admire  the  general  reflections  and  spirit  of  ray  author,  I  cannot  but 
think  he  has  scarcely  done  him  justice.  His  faults  are  always  thrown  into 
high  relief,  whilst  his  good  qualities, — for  he  had  some, — are  either  shaded 
or  entirely  concealed.  la  the  disputes  which  his  position  naturally  drew 
him  into,  his  antagonists  are  always  made  to  be  in  the  right,  Richard  in 
the  wrono-.  Not  a  single  act  is  recorded  before  Ptolemais,  and  yet  Richard 
had  five  thousand  prisoners ;  most  authors  say  three  thousand,  but  the 
larger  number  is  assumed,  for  the  sake  of  the  massacre.  The  more 
eminent  the  exploits  of  Richard,  in  an  army  constituted  like  that  of  the 
Crusaders,  the  greater  were  sure  to  be  the  envy  and  hatred  of  his  fellow- 
leaders.     Richard  is  no  worse   than   other  heroes  of  the  sword,  from 


506  nisTOEY  or  the  crusades. 

The  third  crusade,  -which  was  so  glorious  for  Saladin,  was 
not  entirelv  -uithout  advantages  for  Europe.  Manv  Cru- 
saders on  the  way  to  Palestine,  stopped  in  Spain,  and  by 
their  rictories  over  the  Moors,  prepared  the  deliverance  of 
the  kingdoms  situated  beyond  the  Pyrenees.  A  great 
number  of  Germans,  as  in  the  second  crusade,  prevailed 
upon  by  the  solicitations  of  the  pope,  made  war  upon  the 
barbarous  inhabitants  of  the  shores  of  the  Baltic,  and  thus, 
by  useful  exploits,  extended  the  limits  of  the  Christian  re- 
public in  the  AVest.  As  in  this  war  the  greater  part  of  the 
Crusaders  went  to  Palestine  bv  sea,  the  art  of  navig^ation 
made  a  sensible  advance ;  the  maritime  nations  of  Europe 
acquired  an  accession  of  prosperity,  their  fleets  became  more 
formidable,  and  they  were  able,  with  glory,  to  dispute  the 
empire  of  the  sea  with  the  Saracens. 

In  several  states  of  Europe,  commerce,  and  the  spirit  of 
the  holy  wars  contributed  to  the  enfranchisement  of  the 
lower  classes.  Many  serfs,  upon  becoming  free,  took  up 
arms.  It  was  not  one  of  the  least  interesting  spectacles  of 
this  crusade,  to  see  the  standards  of  several  cities  of  Erance 
and  Germany  floating  in  the  Christian  army  amongst  the 
banners  of  lords  and  barons. 

This  crusade  was  particularly  beneficial  to  Erance,  from 
which  it  banished  both  civil  and  foreign  wars.  By  prolonging 
the  absence  of  the  great  vassals  and  the  enemies  of  the 
kkigdom,  it  weakened  their  power,  and  gave  Philip  Augustus 
authority  to  levy  imposts,  even  upon  the  clergy.  It  afforded 
him  an  opportunity  of  surrounding  his  throne  with  a  faithful 
guard,  to  keep  up  regular  armies,  and  prepare,  though  at  a 
distance,*  that  victory  of  Bovines  which  proved  so  fatal  to 
the  enemies  of  Erance. 

A  long  captirity  awaited  Eichard  on  his  return  to  Europe. 
The  vessel  in  which  he  embarked  was  shipwrecked  on  the 
coast  of  Italy,  and  fearing  to  pass  through  Erance,  he  took 

Achilles  downward.  I  greatly  fear  it  is  his  successful  rivalry  with  the 
more  astute  French  monarch  that  is  the  cause  of  this  bias.  Against  the 
comparison  with  Saladin  I  say  nothing — Saladin  was  a  greater  man  than 
Richard. — Trans. 

*  This  crusade  terminated  in  1192  ;  the  battle  of  Bovines  was  fought 
in  1214.— Trans. 


HISTOKY    or    THE    CKUSADES.  507 

the  route  of  Germany,  concealed  under  the  hahit  of  a  simple 
pilgrim.  His  liberality  betrayed  the  monarch,  and  as  he 
had  enemies  everyAvhere,  he  was  seized  bv  the  soldiers  of 
the  duke  of  Austria.  Leopold  had.  not  sutiicient  generosity 
to  forget  the  outrages  received  from  Eichard  at  the  siege  of 
Ptolemais,  and  detained  him  prisoner.  It  was  not  known 
in  Europe  what  had  become  of  King  Eichard,  when  a  gentle- 
man of  Arras,  named  Blondel,  set  out  in  search  of  his 
master,  and  traversed  Germany  in  the  dress  and  with  the 
lyre  of  a  minstrel.  On  his  arrival  before  a  castle,  in  which, 
it  was  said,  languished  an  illustrious  captive,  Blondel  began 
to  sing  the  first  couplet  of  a  song  which  he  had  composed 
in  conjunction  with  Eichard.  Erom  the  top  of  a  high  tower 
a  voice  answered  him,  and  sang  the  second  couplet.*  Then 
the  faithful  troubadour  returned  into  England  to  announce 
that  he  had  discovered  the  prison  of  the  king.  The  duke  of 
Austria,  terrified  at  this  discovery,  did  not  dare  to  detain 
longer  his  redoubtable  captive  in  his  own  hands,  and  gave 
him  up  to  the  emperor  of  Germany.  Henry  VI.,  who  had 
likewise  insults  to  revenge,  was  rejoiced  to  get  Eichard  in 
his  power,  and  kept  him  in  chains,  as  if  he  had  made  him  a 
prisoner  in  the  field  of  battle.  The  hero  of  the  crusade, 
who  had  filled  the  world  with  his  renown,  Avas  cast  iuto  a 
dark  dungeon,  and  rem.ained  a  long  time  a  victim  to  the 
vengeance  of  his  enemies — and  they  were  Christian  princes. 
He  was  brought  before  the  German  diet,  assembled  at 
Worms,  where  he  was  accused  of  all  the  crimes  that  hatred 
and  envy  could  invent.  But  the  spectacle  of  a  king  in 
chains  was  so  affecting,  that  no  one  durst  condemn  Eichard, 

*  Our  author  bas  given  an  extract  from  the  interesting  manuscript 
which  has  furnished  him  with  this  account ;  but  it  is  so  hjng,  the  French 
is  so  old,  and  the  story  so  well  known,  I  have  thought  best  to  omit  it — a 
translation  would  spoil  it.  It  is  remarkable  that  the  manuscript  chronicle 
makes  Richard  see  Blondel,  and  sing  Jirs-t — our  author  reverses  this  : — 
Ensi  com  il  estoit  en  cctte  pensee,  li  rois  regarde  et  vie  Blondel,  et  pensa 
comment  li  se  feroit  a  lui  connoistre,  et  li  souvint  d'une  canchon  que  ils 
avoient  fait  entre  aus  deux  que  nus  ne  savoit  fois  que  il  roi.  Si  com- 
mencha  haut  et  clerement  a  canter  le  premier  vier,  car  il  cantoit  tres 
bien.  There  appear  to  me  discrepancies  in  the  language  of  this  manu- 
script chronicle,  which  make  the  date  of  it,  the  thirteenth  century,  very 
apocryphal. — Trans. 

23* 


50S  msTOET  or  the  ceusades. 

and  when  "he  offered  bis  justification,  the  bishops  and  nobles 
melted  into  tears,  and  besougbt  Henry  to  treat  bim  with 
less  injustice  and  rigour. 

Queen  Eleanor  implored  all  tbe  powers  of  Europe  for  the 
release  of  ber  son.  Tbe  complaints  and  tears  of  a  mother 
touched  tbe  beart  of  Celestine,  who  bad  recently  ascended 
tlie  cbair  of  St.  Peter.  Tbe  pope  several  times  demanded 
tbe  bberty  of  tbe  king  of  England,  and  even  excommuni- 
cated tbe  duke  of  Austria  and  tbe  emperor ;  but  tbe  thunders 
of  the  Cburcb  bad  so  often  been  launched  against  tbe 
tbrones  of  Germanv,  tbat  they  no  longer  inspired  fear, 
Hem-^-  braved  tbe  anathemas  of  tbe  Holy  kSee  ;  tbe  capti\-ity 
of  Eicbard  lasted  another  vear ;  and  be  ouly  obtained  his 
liberty  after  engaging  to  pay  a  considerable  ransom.  His 
kingdom,  which  be  had  ruined  at  his  departure  for  tbe  Holy 
Land,  exhausted  itself  to  hasten  bis  return ;  and  England 
gave  up  even  her  sacred  vases  to  break  tbe  chains  of  her 
monarch.  He  was  received  with  enthusiasm  by  tbe  English ; 
his  adventures,  which  di-ew  tears,  obbt crated  the  remem- 
brance of  his  cruelties,  and  Europe  only  recollected  his 
exploits  and  his  misfortunes. 

After  the  truce  made  %vith  Eicbard,  Saladin  retired  to 
Damascus,  where  he  enjoyed  his  glory  but  one  year.  Tbe 
Orientals  celebrate  tbe  edifying  manner  in  which  he  died, 
distributing:  his  alms  or  benevolences  to  Mussulmans  and 
Christians  alike.  Before  he  expired  he  ordered  one  of  bis 
officers  to  carry  his  shroud  through  tbe  streets  of  his  capital, 
and  to  cry  with  a  loud  voice  :  '•  Behold  all  that  Saladin, 
v:ho  overcame  the  East,  hears  aivay  of  his  conquests^ 

Scarcely  had  he  ceased  to  breathe,  when  nothing  remained 
but  a  vain  remembrance  of  bis  laws  and  bis  victories  ;  his 
death  was  attended  by  tbat  which  so  frequently  happens  in 
Oriental  monarchies,  where  nothing  is  regulated  concerning 
tbe  succession ;  where  victory  appears  to  be  tbe  most  legiti- 
mate title,  and  where  a  too  numerous  offspring  await  the 
death  of  the  prince  in  fear,  servitude,  and  in  ignorance  of 
tbe  affairs  of  tbe  state. 

Saladin  only  left  behind  bim  slaves  intimidated  by  his 
glory  and  bis  boundless  power,  who  divided  bis  authority 
among   them,   but   could   not   support   the  weight   of  it. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CEUSADES.  509 

Twelve  of  bis  sons  and  relatives  succeeded  him  and  dis- 
puted the  sovereignty.  Malek-Adel,  the  brother  of  the 
sultan,  and  companion  in  bis  exploits,  profited  by  the  inex- 
perience of  his  nephews,  and  took  possession  of  Eg^-pt  and 
Mesopotamia.  The  most  powerful  of  the  emirs  followed 
bis  example,  and  shared  the  cities  and  provinces  amongst 
them.  Asia  then  beheld  that  empii-e  fall  to  decay,  which, 
raised  for  the  ruin  of  the  Chi^istians,  bad,  in  its  growth  and 
progress,  twice  roused  all  the  nations  of  the  AYest  to  arms. 


EITD  OE  VOL.  I. 


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